More flights on Bahrain, Oman routes

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) India has signed bilateral agreements with Bahrain and Oman to raise the frequency of air services and increase the number of destinations.

In an agreement between India and Bahrain, signed yesterday, both sides have decided to enhance the existing traffic entitlement to 11,500 seats per week in each direction with immediate effect, an official release said here today.

For Bahrain, Hyderabad has been included as an additional point of call.

The India-Oman agreement also allows enhancing the existing traffic entitlement to 11,550 seats a week in each direction with immediate effect.

For Oman, Bangalore and Calicut have been included as an additional point of call.

The request of the Omani side to grant Mangalore as an additional point of call in India will be considered only after Mangalore is declared an International Airport.

For India, the points of call in Oman are Muscat and Salalah.

Both sides have also decided to free up all limitations on the cargo services.

There will be no restrictions in terms of frequency and point of call for operating cargo services.

The designated Indian carriers for Bahrain can use any points in Asia, including points in the UAE, Oman and Qatar, as 'intermediate points', and any points in Europe, North America and Asia, including points in the UAE, Oman and Qatar, as 'beyond points'.

The designated Bahrain airlines will operate not more than seven services a week each to and from Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi and not less than two services per week to Kolkata.

The designated airlines of Oman can use any point an 'intermediate points' or 'beyond points' but without fifth freedom traffic rights. The designated Indian carriers can use any points in Asia, including points in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain as 'intermediate points' and any point in Europe, North America and Asia including points in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain as 'beyond points'.

The Oman airlines can now operate not more than 14 frequencies/ 2,156 seats a week to Mumbai, seven frequencies/ 1,078 seats a week to New Delhi, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad and Lucknow, six frequencies/924 seats a week to Jaipur and Bangalore.

UNI YJ AK KP1904