Gulf airlines edge past Air India again as post-Covid flying picks up

Air India's dwindling market share is significant as the Tata-owned airline is reported to induct about 200 more planes in what is being billed as one of the largest aircraft orders in Indian aviation

After cornering a third of the international flying market to and from India, largely owing to air bubble arrangements and repatriation flights under the Vande Bharat mission, the now Tata-owned Air India has again lost out to Middle Eastern carriers in 2021-22.

According to latest figures published by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), from April to December 2021-22, Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express together commanded 28 per cent of the international traffic to and from the country. Meanwhile five Middle Eastern airlines led by Qatar Airways bagged almost 30 per cent of the market during