Dubai proposal limits foreign flights
A proposal reported by Simple Flying would cap foreign carriers at one daily flight to Dubai while allowing Emirates to continue regular operations, a change flagged as especially damaging to India‑based airlines if implemented. (simpleflying.com) The report frames the move as a route‑capacity restriction that would reshape service options into Dubai. (simpleflying.com)
Dubai has told foreign airlines they can operate only one daily round trip to each of its two airports through May 31, according to letters seen by Reuters. (reuters.com) The restriction was sent in a March 27 email from Dubai Airports and applies during the summer schedule from April 20 to May 31 at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, Reuters reported. Dubai Airports said in the email that carriers would remain limited to “one rotation per day” until more capacity could be facilitated. (reuters.com) Dubai-based airlines are not facing the same cap. Reuters reported that flydubai said its schedules were approved by the relevant authorities, while Emirates did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. (reuters.com) The change lands hardest on India because India was Dubai International Airport’s largest country market in 2025, with 11.9 million passengers. Dubai Airports said the airport handled a record 95.2 million passengers last year. (dubaiairports.ae) Cirium schedule data cited by Reuters shows Air India and Air India Express had planned more than 750 flights into Dubai International Airport during the affected period. IndiGo had 481 planned flights, followed by Saudia with 480 and Gulf Air with 404. (reuters.com) Indian airlines said the cap would cut revenue at a time when they are already dealing with higher fuel costs and longer routings to western destinations because Pakistani airspace remains closed to Indian carriers, Reuters reported. The Federation of Indian Airlines asked New Delhi to press Dubai to lift the curbs. (reuters.com) The dispute also sits inside a longer fight over traffic rights. Reuters reported that Emirates and other Gulf airlines have long argued that India’s bilateral air service agreements cap seat allocations, while Indian officials have said those limits protect domestic carriers. (reuters.com) Simple Flying said no public announcement from Dubai authorities was available when it published its report on April 12. As of April 12, the clearest public account remains Reuters’ description of private airline communications and carrier responses. (simpleflying.com, reuters.com)
