The recent approval of two new airlines to operate between India and the UAE has sparked hopes of lower airfares for travelers. However, experts and travel agents caution that any significant change in ticket prices will only be evident once flights are actually operational.

AlHind Air, one of the newly approved carriers, plans to launch domestic services first before expanding internationally, with the UAE expected to be one of its first international destinations once all regulatory requirements are met. FlyExpress, the other new airline granted approval, is part of India’s broader effort to increase competition in its aviation market.

While the addition of these airlines is expected to increase competition and potentially drive down fares, travel professionals stress that it’s too early to predict how much of an impact the new entrants will have.

Subair Thekepurathvalappil, Senior Manager at Wisefox Tourism, stated, “Once the airlines are operational, we may see a reduction in airfares as more seats become available. However, it’s difficult to predict how much prices will drop at this stage.” He noted that demand for flights from the UAE to major Indian cities, such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, remains consistently high, particularly during peak seasons when flights are often fully booked.

Mir Wasim Raja, Manager at Galadari International Travel, echoed similar sentiments, explaining that details regarding the routes, number of flights, and destinations are still unclear. “We don’t yet know the specific routes or the frequency of services,” he said. “Once the airlines are operational, there will be more seats available, especially for South India, where demand is always high.”

UAE travelers frequently fly to South India, particularly to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, due to the region’s large expatriate population and year-round business and family travel. According to travel agents, these routes often operate at full capacity, especially during holidays and peak seasons.

Subair added that while fewer than 10 airlines currently operate direct services on many India-UAE routes, the addition of new carriers or more frequent flights is much needed. “There’s a strong demand for more flights,” he said.

For now, travelers are advised to remain patient and flexible. “Until more details are available, we recommend booking early and staying updated on airline announcements,” said Subair.

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA