Emirates asks India for Open Skies accord amid rising demand, competition

Emirates President urged India to embrace a so-called Open Skies accord with the airline's home country that would give carriers greater access to each other's market, amid rising competition

-By Ragini Saxena

Emirates President Tim Clark urged India to embrace a so-called Open Skies accord with the airline’s home country that would give carriers greater access to each other’s market, amid rising competition from the likes of Air India Ltd. and Indigo.

“There is a need to increase air access,” Clark said during a briefing with journalists at the CAPA India Aviation Summit in New Delhi on Tuesday. “Demand is so strong out there.”

While Clark said Indian carriers stand to earn as much as $1 billion in revenue if the country were to provide greater international access, his