Indian government requests Qatar to start an airline in the country
India’s civil aviation ministry has requested the Qatar government to start an airline in India and participate in the country’s growth story.
The request was made during bilateral negotiations between the two countries for increased number of flights recently, reported LiveMint, quoting a person familiar with the subject, but who did not wish to be named.
“They were looking at a regional airline, full fledged national airline or investment in an existing Indian airline,” the person said, referring to the aviation ministry.
India’s domestic aviation market reached nearly 100m passengers in 2016 and is set to displace UK as the third-largest aviation market by 2026.
Civil aviation secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey confirmed that the aviation ministry has written to Qatar’s government to start an airline in India.
“That’s what we’ve suggested to them. We’ve a fantastic market— its 100% FDI. Come fly your planes, there’s money here (to be made),” Choubey said.
The message was also communicated to Qatar Airways’s CEO Akbar Al Baker when he visited the ministry in recent months.
not bad idea / investment ! already Singapore Airlines has done investment with Tata and launched Vistara. Then Air Asia again with Tata and launched Air Asia India.
Earlier Qatar Airways wanted to invest in Indigo .. they can try investment with SpiceJet or GoAir