INDIGO CEO: TIME TO OPEN FLIGHTS TO THAILAND, SAUDI ARABIA

Charters do brisk business as govt. treads cautiously on international flights

With festivities and holiday season pushing up demand for air travel it is time for the government to improve international connectivity under the air-bubble arrangement by adding countries like Saudi Arabia and Thailand under the “air bubble” arrangement, says IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta.

While 96 countries around the world recognise India’s Covid-19 vaccination certificates, the government has been cautious in fully reopening international flights. India permits only direct commercial flights to and from 28 countries, with which it has a temporary arrangement, also known as an “air bubble” agreement.

“I’m hoping that the government will open up air bubble destinations. Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi are doing very well because of air bubble arrangements. Our next target markets, on which we are working with the government, are Saudi Arabia and Thailand. We really want these opened up and all indications are that by December they will reopen,” Mr. Dutta told The Hindu in an interview on Wednesday.