Middle East Carriers: Fast gaining popularity in Indian market

According to the Middle East Aviation Outlook 2009 report by Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) in November 2008, the share of global airline premium revenue passing to and through the Middle East grew to a remarkable 12 per cent, up 50 per cent since the start of the global economic slowdown. According to the same report, Middle East carriers are taking delivery of 21 per cent of the world’s wide bodied carriers this year (50 aircraft in total) and 13 per cent of the total wide bodied carriers in 2010. These proportions can increase if the loss-making Asian and European carriers defer or cancel some of their orders.

The Middle East carriers, with their strong financial backing and more resilient traffic, are expected to be less inclined to cancel their orders. With immense potential that the region showcases, the Middle East carriers are already expanding frequencies in the Indian market and at the same time India has also witnessed new carriers like Bahrain Air, Sama Airlines, Flydubai entering the Indian skies. Below are the carriers operating in the Indian market and the strategy adopted by them in order to garner larger market share.