Emirates, SpiceJet sign codeshare deal
Dubai: Emirates Airline announced on Monday it has signed a deal to enter into a codeshare agreement with SpiceJet, the Indian carrier that has grown for its low-cost model.
The deal comes India’s Jet Airways, which was once one of the top airlines in the country, suspends all its flights due to a cash crisis that has reopened discussions about the challenges of operating in the Indian market.
Analysts say that the rise of low-cost carriers such as SpiceJet in a market with price-conscious passengers presented a challenge to Jet’s very model as more people opt for cheaper fares.
For Emirates, the codeshare with SpiceJet will provide it with an additional 67 weekly connections between Dubai and six of what it described as “fast growing destinations in India.”
These include Amritsar, Jaipur, Pune, Mangalore, Madurai, and Calicut.
The deal is still subject to necessary government approvals, Emirates said.