Indian aviation regulator DGCA currently allows Lufthansa to operate only 10 weekly flights from India to Germany
Restricting air traffic between India and Germany is hurting both economies and the Lufthansa group is eagerly waiting for the Indian government to allow more flights between the two countries, its CEO Carsten Spohr said on October 3. Said here.
Indian aviation regulator DGCA currently allows Lufthansa to operate just 10 weekly flights from India to Germany after it accused the airline in September 2020 of being the beneficiary of “unequal distribution” of traffic.
At a media briefing on the first day of the 77th Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) here, Mr. Spohr said: “The first thing we need is right now (between India and Germany), to ‘open’ and More traffic’ “So, it is hurting both economies because both economies are dependent on imports and exports,” Mr. Spohr noted.
He said the German and Swiss governments are in constant talks with the Indian government for “additional flights”.
IATA has about 290 airlines, which comprise 82% of global air traffic as its members.
Currently, there are no international flights operating between India and Switzerland, he expressed hope that services between the two countries will resume soon.
The Germany-based Lufthansa Group operates various European airline brands including Swiss, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines.
Scheduled international passenger flights in India are suspended since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, India, along with around 28 countries, including Germany, has allowed special flights under an “air bubble” arrangement.
According to aviation industry sources, about 20% of pre-Covid international flights are being operated from India right now.
Asked about his opinion about Vistara’s possible merger with Air India, Mr. Spohar replied: “This is something that we are looking at with great interest. Obviously, Vistara is partly part of Singapore Airlines. Which is a strong partner of Lufthansa. Air India is part of Star Alliance, so there are two friends (Air India and Vistara) meeting here.” The Government of India had invited Expression of Interest (EoI) for Air India on January 27, 2020.
According to sources, Tata Group, which runs Vistara and AirAsia India, is currently the top contender to win Air India.
Mr. Spohr said he plans to visit India early next year to talk to Indian carriers about what additional business can be jointly generated on a “critical market” between India and Europe.
Asked if the visit would be about any new kind of codeshare agreement, he replied: “It will be about expanding our partnership. We already have a codeshare agreement with Air India. We can do more.” However, he again mentioned the need for more air traffic between India and Germany.
He said, “At Lufthansa, we can’t wait for the Indian government to reopen (scheduled air traffic) and I promise you that my best plane will visit your country. So, this is something that needs to be done.” We are eagerly waiting.”
In a two-way codeshare agreement, each airline can sell seats on the other’s flights on its own distribution system.
Lufthansa on September 29, 2020 had announced the cancellation of all flights from India to Germany between September 30 and October 20, 2020.
The DGCA issued a statement a few hours later, saying the restrictions for Indian nationals wishing to travel to Germany were putting Indian carriers at a significant disadvantage, resulting in an “unequal distribution of traffic in favor of Lufthansa”. ” Happened.
It said that Lufthansa operated 20 flights a week, as against Indian carriers that operated three-four flights a week.
“Despite this disparity, we offered to approve seven flights a week for Lufthansa, which they did not accept. Negotiations are on,” the DGCA said.
Finally in October 2020, it was decided between India and Germany that Lufthansa would operate 10 weekly flights from India to Germany.
The then Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Twitter on October 21, 2020: “Flights between India and Germany start under air bubble arrangement. Lufthansa Delhi (4 days), Mumbai (3 days) and Bengaluru (3 days). day). @airindiain will operate 5 flights weekly from Delhi and 2 flights per week from Bengaluru to Frankfurt.
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