Kuwait hopeful of ending flight row with India

DUBAI: Kuwait has expressed optimism that the row over a possible ban on landing of state-owned Indian airliners in its capital will be resolved amicably as the two countries prepare to hold talks on the issue.

A high-level Indian delegation comprising joint secretary of the Aviation Ministry, RK Singh and representatives of 'Air India' and 'Indian' will arrive in Kuwait later on Thursday for talks which will last until Friday.

"An Indian delegation will arrive in Kuwait and we will begin negotiations about the issue. We will reach an agreement and the results will be announced before or on Saturday," a senior official of Kuwait's Department of Civil Aviation, Salah Al-Armeni was quoted as saying in 'Kuwait Times'.

The airline row comes at a time when thousands of passengers are preparing to fly to India for summer holidays.

Kuwait had issued a notice to 'Air India' and 'Indian' saying it will not receive flights of the airlines from July 1 in the capital, alleging that New Delhi was going back on commitments in the air bilateral agreement between both countries.

A bilateral agreement was signed between the states last year allowing for 5,200 seats per week for both states. Kuwait has requested the limit be raised in addition to requesting that Kuwait's carriers be allowed to pick up passengers from third countries.

While Kuwait Airways and Al-Jazeera operate daily flights to India, Air India and Indian maintain a total of seven flights per week out of Kuwait.