Qatar wants flight cap to & from India to go, wants to increase number of weekly seats to India

NEW DELHI: Qatar has sought open skies with India, an aviation treaty under which there is no cap on the number of flights or seats operated between two countries ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the energy-rich Gulf nation next week.

India last gave additional flying rights to Qatar in 2009 due to which Qatar Airways is currently entitled to deploy about 24,000 weekly seats to India, less than half the bilaterals given to neighbouring Dubai and Abu Dhabi by the Congress-led UPA during its 10-year rule.

"While most Gulf countries ask for additional bilaterals with India, Qatar has formally sent a request for the same. That is being examined and we will take a call," said a senior aviation ministry official.

The issue is likely to come up during Modi's visit to Qatar next week when he meets the Emir of Qatar.

Qatar Airways said it will not comment on the "ministerial level discussions that are currently happening."

Over the years Dubai-based carriers (mainly Emirates) were allowed to operate 66,000 seats a week to India.

Similarly , Abu Dhabi's Etihad is allowed to operate 50,000 seats a week to India.

Indian carriers operate about 20,100 seats to Abu Dhabi and Etihad deploys about 41,658, said a source.