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karatecatman
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 Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:05 am Post subject: Kuwait threatens to stop all flights |
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Kuwait threatens to stop all flights after Govt says don’t hit our UAE business
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/34110.html
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Low-cost Jazeera wants to increase its flights via Dubai by 50%, India says not right ‘spirit’
NEW DELHI, JUNE 19: Setting off a diplomatic row, Kuwait has threatened to stop all flights to India from July 1 alleging that New Delhi is going back on commitments in the air bilateral agreement between both countries.
At the heart of the problem is Kuwait’s first private low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways, which wants to operate most of its flights via Dubai under fifth freedom intermediate rights enshrined in the agreement (these refer to the right to pick up traffic to and from a third country, in this case UAE). Already, 10 of its 13 flights to and from India are routed via Dubai, its second hub after Kuwait City, threatening the market for Indian and Air India Express. |
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Not another of these spats, we just went through this with Malaysia and Russia, and now Kuwait!
I wish the GoI would move on with providing intl flying rights to all our domestic airlines, and then the Jazeeras of the world will have a tough time. Until then, they are free to start up with India being the inaugural route! |
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Jaysit
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Nimish wrote: | Not another of these spats, we just went through this with Malaysia and Russia, and now Kuwait!
I wish the GoI would move on with providing intl flying rights to all our domestic airlines, and then the Jazeeras of the world will have a tough time. Until then, they are free to start up with India being the inaugural route! |
Exactly.
The GOI has always had this dog in the manger attitude in its attempt to protect its precious Air India/IC cartel. Its the typical Indian attitude that led to the control of Indian commerce by the East India Company 400 years ago. Screw your fellow desi to keep the firangs fat and happy! |
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HAWK21M
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Location: Mumbai, INDIA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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Giving permission for private Indian operators to fly abroad will def beat these LCCs from Abroad.
regds
MEL
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BigTom
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Joined: 21 Mar 2007
Posts: 271
Location: Dubai, UAE
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| HAWK21M wrote: | Giving permission for private Indian operators to fly abroad will def beat these LCCs from Abroad.
regds
MEL |
I second that. But GOI need to do some tough talking to the Kuwaitis if only to take them down a peg or two. From the Kuwaiti point of view India is one big pool of cheap labour waiting to be exploited. Many of them have that attitude that they have done India a favour by giving Indians jobs and just don't consider the fact that this cheap labour is what allows their companies to log fat profits year in and year out.
Cheers |
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Jaysit
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="BigTom"] | HAWK21M wrote: | From the Kuwaiti point of view India is one big pool of cheap labour waiting to be exploited. Many of them have that attitude that they have done India a favour by giving Indians jobs and just don't consider the fact that this cheap labour is what allows their companies to log fat profits year in and year out.
Cheers |
The Kuwaitis are also probably pissed as back in the day of restrictive bilaterals between India and the UK/US/EU, Kuwait Airways made a killing ferrying Indians to the US and London. Now with a plethora of direct and/or nonstops, even KU's bargain basement prices aren't much of an incentive. |
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Jaysit wrote: | | The Kuwaitis are also probably pissed as back in the day of restrictive bilaterals between India and the UK/US/EU, Kuwait Airways made a killing ferrying Indians to the US and London. Now with a plethora of direct and/or nonstops, even KU's bargain basement prices aren't much of an incentive. |
That's true, but then why is KU trying to get more services to India? Or do they think they can beat EK/EY at their game? |
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Jaysit
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Nimish wrote: |
That's true, but then why is KU trying to get more services to India? Or do they think they can beat EK/EY at their game? |
Perhaps.
But after years, the Kuwaiti economy is also back in high gear, and as usual, they need Indians to work there. For many years, the Kuwaiti government was cross at the GOI for not coming out strongly against Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and preferentially gave labor visas to Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Indonesians, etc. Well, they've discovered over the years that their fellow Asian Muslims are also prone to all sorts of foment and persuasion from radical right wing Islamic types, whereas Indians (and Sri Lankans) are a docile lot who just want to make money to send home. Thais are too expensive, Palestinians are still persona non grata in Kuwait and so they're back to hiring Indians in full force. |
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Nimish
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Location: Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Jaysit wrote: |
But after years, the Kuwaiti economy is also back in high gear, and as usual, they need Indians to work there. For many years, the Kuwaiti government was cross at the GOI for not coming out strongly against Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and preferentially gave labor visas to Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Indonesians, etc. Well, they've discovered over the years that their fellow Asian Muslims are also prone to all sorts of foment and persuasion from radical right wing Islamic types, whereas Indians (and Sri Lankans) are a docile lot who just want to make money to send home. Thais are too expensive, Palestinians are still persona non grata in Kuwait and so they're back to hiring Indians in full force. |
Very interesting... I did not know any of this  |
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karatecatman
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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Flash news is that MoCA has asked Air India/IA to be ready for all Kuwait flights to stop w.e.f July 1.
Kuwait is acting tough and has decided to to stop all to and fro flights to India by Kuwait Airways, Air India and Indian Airlines with effect from July 2007.
Report is in the Al-Qabas daily. |
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malQ
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Posts: 713
Location: Delhi, India
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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| About time the Indian Government started calling the bluff that the Arab countries have been throwing our way for decades. This should be interesting and settle many things once and for all. |
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Jaysit
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Silly Kuwaitis.
This tiny pathetic little country whose ruler ran away like a terrified little girl with his dishdasha rolled up to his knees when Saddam invaded is now acting like a big bully. But of course it can, when you had idiotic desis in the GOI who for years gave the farm away to Arab carriers just because they wanted to protect pathetic Air India and its pathetic fleet of hand-me-down khatara A310s. The Kuwaitis like all the other Arab countries pretty much took the GOI for granted, who they thought were typical desi babus who were either too stupid, or very easily bought, or both.
If India had any sense, they'd give allow Kingfisher and Jet to operate to all Gulf points. By tomorrow, the likes of Jazeera and KU would be bankrupt. |
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malQ
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Location: Delhi, India
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:40 am Post subject: |
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Things have changed all over the world and I think the Kuwaiti Government may have to re-think their stand soon. Reasons are:-
a) The status of the Indian Government as well as Indians worldwide has changed over the last few decades. No longer are we - even our politicians or babus or opinion makers - dependant on handouts from the Gulf Countries. Old timers here will recall an ex-Aviation Minister who would sport a wriist watch given to him by one of the Arab Ruler family members as a big status symbol around which a great report was built that he thus did not need a visa to enter that country.
As an ex-shippie, I also get feedback on how Indian nationals on board ships are not treated like dirt anymore - quite differently in fact, the new generation of Arabs has evolved a respect for the way India and Indians have broken the shackles.
b) Any action the MoCA takes on this subject will be open to scrutiny under the RTI Act, and so, they will need to be careful. The old excuses of "diplomatic pressure" as a reason simply are not enough anymore because the world has moved on from leftist and rightist and diplomatic to one simple equation - economic.
+++
In a way this is good. Surplus aircraft can be placed on serving the anticipated rush from July'07 onwards. I was amazed to see how fares to the US have climbed, for example, for July'07. |
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karatecatman
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=168157
Kuwait to stop ‘Indian’ flights from July 1
Quote:
A circular indicating that Kuwait would not allow the flights of Indian carriers at its airport was issued to Air India and Indian by its Director General of Civil Aviation, the report quoted an unnamed 'Indian' official as saying. |
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HAWK21M
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karatecatman
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=24670
Kuwait's decision to stop flights unfair: Govt
BS Reporter / New Delhi June 25, 2007
Quotes:
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has described Kuwait's decision to stop Indian flights to Kuwait as "unfair and unwarranted" and has assured the two national carriers Indian and Air India that the issue will be settled in a couple of days, sources said.
"Our ambassador to Kuwait has conveyed a message to them saying that there is a bilateral agreement between the two countries, and such unilateral action would be harmful to the interests of the travellers," said a civil aviation ministry spokesperson. "India is always ready for talks with Kuwaiti authorities and open for any discussion on the issue."
Despite the threats from Kuwaiti civil aviation authorities, there is no panic among the passengers nor any dip in the bookings yet. "There have been no ticket cancellations of Kuwait flights yet. Neither have passengers shown a sudden frenzy to shift to other airlines," said Raj Kachroo, sales manager, Swift travels. "It is impossible to stop flights at the eleventh hour, and had there been any such measure, then the concerned airlines would have informed passengers in advance or made alternate arrangements," he said.
The national carriers too are assured that the matter will be settled before any trouble comes to fore. ‘Bilateral negotiations are going on at the governmental level and we are confident that the matter will be resolved amicably before 1st July 2007," said a spokesperson from Air India. |
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BigTom
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Posts: 271
Location: Dubai, UAE
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| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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A report in today's Kuwait Times says that the two sides are expected to meet and thrash this out on Wednesday.
Cheers |
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HAWK21M
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Location: Mumbai, INDIA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| BigTom wrote: | A report in today's Kuwait Times says that the two sides are expected to meet and thrash this out on Wednesday.
Cheers |
Where is this meet scheduled.
regds
MEL
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BigTom
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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From today's Kuwait Times it seems that they are meeting in Kuwait today and are expected to hammer out a deal by Saturday ...
Kuwait, India expected to solve flights dispute
| Quote: | The representative of the Department of Civil Aviation Salah Al-Armeni stated on Wednesday, "Tomorrow, an Indian delegation will arrive in Kuwait and we will begin negotiations about the issue. God willing, we will reach an agreement and the results will be announced before or on Saturday." Sunday is the stated deadline for flights according to Kuwait's mid June announcement that it would halt all flights of Indian designated carriers as of July 1 in response to New Delhi's failure to honor an agreement which allowed for more landing rights for Kuwaiti carriers.
While Kuwait Airways and Al-Jazeera operate daily flights to India, Air India and Indian Airlines maintain a total of seven flights per week out of Kuwait. A Kuwait Airways representative speaking to Kuwait Times yesterday said, "All flights are on schedule and we have not received any official papers stating we should stop flights on July 1. You could even call the airport to see if flights are on schedule..." Al-Jazeera Airlines, the first private airline to open in Kuwait, runs ten out of thirteen of its Kuwait-India flights via Dubai.
Al-Jazeera, also speaking to Kuwait Times yesterday, stated, "In the meantime there is no official news. If anything develops, we will tell passengers 24 hours prior to their flights. In case of a problem, we would provide refunds or credits...whatever will suit our clients." |
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karatecatman
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:48 am Post subject: |
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Kuwait issue: Airlines may reserve 200 seats
http://tinyurl.com/2ke6n9
ASIAN AGE
By SRIDHAR KUMARASWAMI
New Delhi, June 28: State-owned carriers Air India and Indian have prepared a contingency plan whereby 200 seats per day will be reserved for their Kuwait-bound passengers on flights of Gulf Air to Bahrain from July 1, in case of failure of the ongoing civil aviation bilateral talks between India and Kuwait. Kuwait has already threatened to ban Air India and Indian from flying to Kuwait from July 1 due to a dispute over the bilateral civil aviation agreement. "The state-owned carriers had approached Gulf Air which has agreed to the request for allocating 200 seats per day on its flights to Bahrain. ‘ |
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karatecatman
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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Just got information to say that the Indo-Kuwait talks have been quite succesful.
Details are not yet known, but Air India/IA have been asked to continue as normal all operations to Kuwait.
11 p.m. |
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Aiel
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Posts: 927
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Aviation row: India, Kuwait reach deal
India and Kuwait have reached an agreement on resolving a dispute on air traffic rights, over which the gulf state had threatened to stop Indian national carriers flying there from Sunday.
Just before the expiry of the deadline, an MoU was signed last night by the civil aviation authorities of the two countries in Kuwait city after a marathon negotiations lasting three days, Indian ambassador to Kuwait M Ganapthi said.
The points in agreement include additional 4,000 seat taking the total to 12,000 seats in each directions, but the fifth freedom destinations will apply to the earlier 8,000 seats.
India has agreed to allow Kuwait carriers to operate flights to Hyderabad, Kolkata both with immediate effect and Bangalore from the winter 2008 schedule.
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Birendra
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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Seems like a give and take policy is paramount in aviation.
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