Emirates has just added 18 new flights into India every week. These flights will start on July 1^st, right on time with the holiday season, adding 5,900 seats each week. This is going to give mean Emirates the top spot of the most flights into this country out of any of the international carriers, setting them at 132 flights every week.

The increase of their offered services, considering the increase in petrol costs and cutting the costs of North American and European carriers, will threaten a price war between routes in India and the Gulf. Emirates, however, is not on their own in adding more flights into India. Etihad has 28 flights each week going to India, and in August they are adding Channai and Calicut. The Indian and UAE governments have been discussing a new policy of open skies between both of the countries.

James Hogan, the chief executive of Etihad Airways, said that they have made the fact that they want to build up their services to India no secret. The Indian and UAE governments and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport deserve major credit to open up air links from both of the emerging nations. This will provide Etihad with the chance to enhance their services for the developing cities of India.

The two established lower cost carriers in the region, Air Arabia and Jazeera Airways, will also be adding routes, and new operators will also be joining them. Jet Airways of India has been reported to be planning a launch into the Gulf of their Jet-Lite brand. Air-India Express is also planning new routes. Emirates will probably have a low-cost brand of their own up and running sometime within the year.