KUWAIT CITY, July 19: In a rare and significant move, India has increased bilateral flying rights with Kuwait by 50%, raising the weekly seat capacity between the two countries from 12,000 to 18,000. This marks the first such enhancement for Kuwait in 18 years, following a previous increase from 8,320 seats in 2006.

The revised agreement allows airlines from both India and Kuwait to now operate up to 18,000 seats per week in each direction. The deal was formalized through the signing of a memorandum between India’s Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) President Sheikh Hamoud Al-Mubarak.

The increase comes amid surging demand for travel between the two nations, with existing capacities having been fully utilized by carriers on both sides for some time.

Currently, Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo, Jazeera Airways, and Kuwait Airways operate nearly 40 flights daily between India and Kuwait. Kuwait Airways leads with 54 weekly flights, followed by IndiGo with 36, making them the two largest operators on this route.

The agreement reflects Kuwait's long-standing request for an increase in bilateral air rights, a demand that aligns with broader trends in the Middle East — particularly regions such as Dubai — where travel demand from and to India continues to soar.

Since 2014, the Modi government has pursued a bilateral air agreement policy aimed at protecting and promoting the interests of Indian carriers. 

The newly signed agreement with Kuwait marks a continuation of this pro-growth, pro-aviation policy, offering increased capacity and greater flexibility for airlines on both sides to meet evolving passenger demand.