FIA seeks Centre's help on removal of Dubai airport authorities' capping on flight ops

Mumbai, Airlines' grouping Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) has sought the Centre's help in removal of restrictions of one rotation a day imposed on foreign carriers by Dubai Airport Authorities.

In a communication to Civil Aviation Secretary last week, FIA, which represents Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, said continuation of such restrictions on Indian carriers is already leading to anti-competitive market conditions and substantial revenue losses, among others.

"As per the said communication, DXB authorities have mandated flight cancellations for the Northern Summer 2026 season, effective from April 20 May 31, applicable to both DXB (Dubai) and DWC (Al Maktoum International Airport). During this period, foreign carriers have been restricted to only one rotation per day, until further capacity becomes available," FIA said in the letter.


However, UAE-based carriers such as Emirates and Flydubai have already resumed operations to India at pre-disruption levels and are not subject to similar restrictions, it said.

Flights to and from Dubai are experiencing significant disruptions due to regional airspace restriction amid the ongoing war in West Asia.

"This differential treatment has resulted in a significantly uneven playing field," FIA alleged, adding that the continuation of such restrictions on Indian carriers is already leading to anti-competitive market conditions, operational inefficiencies, substantial revenue losses, along with passenger inconvenience and disruption.

"... FIA respectfully requests the (Civil Aviation) Ministry to urgently examine the matter and approach Dubai authorities for immediate removal of this restriction for Indian carriers so that they can reinstate operations to Dubai to pre-war levels," it said.

The FIA also said in the absence of such relief, "we further request the ministry to consider the implementation of appropriate reciprocal measures to ensure parity and fairness -- restricting operations of Dubai carriers to the level of cumulative seat capacity deployed by Indian carriers on services to/from Dubai".