Fujairah in UAE Set to Get Air Connectivity with India, Talks Underway with Indian Airline

The Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) Dubai is slowly turning out to be a store of aviation news. After Emirates’ announcement of initial A350 destinations and expansion of its refurbishment program, there is major news from Fujairah International Airport.

The airport operator is looking to establish direct connectivity between Fujairah and India. Talks are underway with a few airlines for the same.

Fujairah to Get India Connectivity

Airlines from both sides connect India to four airports in the United Arab Emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. For freighter or non-scheduled/charter flights, airlines also use the Dubai World Central Airport (DWC). There is a high possibility of adding one more airport to this list.

Fujairah International Airport is in final discussions with an Indian airline to establish direct connectivity to India. Business Development Manager at Fujairah Airport, Mark Govender told Khaleej Times in an interview that the airport will soon get a direct India connection. Talks with one airline are in the final stages. Additionally, a few more airlines are interested in connecting India to Fujairah.

When asked about the timeline, he said that the process has started for gaining approval for the initiation of services. He added that flights may commence as early as this year. It depends on the documentation work and final approvals from authorities. Govender was speaking at ATM Dubai.

Muscat, Cairo & India: Exciting Times For Fujairah Airport

In the past two decades, no Indian airlines operated scheduled flights from Fujairah Airport. In 2022, SpiceJet chose Fujairah as its hub for Hajj flights. Just recently, a SpiceJet flight to Dubai got diverted to Fujairah because of flooding at DXB. The airport operator took to social media to welcome the passengers.

Mark Govender said that currently, it is a very exciting time for Fujairah Airport. At present, SalamAir is the only airline operating scheduled flights from the airport. In June 2023, the airline commenced these services. Mark said that the flights to Oman have been extremely successful. They are operating at a Load Factor of 100%. SalamAir also operates seasonal flights between Fujairah and Salalah.

The bigger question here is which airline will operate a direct flight to India. SpiceJet is the only airline, which had based its aircraft at Fujairah for non-scheduled operations. IndiGo & Air India Express, being LCCs are the other potential carriers to start services from the airport. Akasa Air, the newest major airline in India may also be a potential contender on this list.

From July 11, one more airline will be added to the FIDS of Fujairah Airport. EgyptAir will commence direct services from Cairo International Airport (CAI). The airline will operate twice weekly flights connecting the African city to Fujairah. The airport official said that they are very excited about this new service.

Fujairah Airport is Expanding

Govender listed many benefits for airlines to operate to Fujairah. First on the list is that Fujairah is a congestion-free airport. Hence, there would be no problem in requiring slots. There will be no waiting period for aircraft to land, reducing the airline’s fuel usage. Airlines may pick slots based on their desire.

Fujairah Airport has a parallel runway. The airport can handle 2 million passengers per annum and has the capacity to manage 20 flights on a daily basis. Furthermore, along the lines of airports in the UAE, Fujairah is an efficient airport.

According to Mark, it will take only 15 minutes for a passenger to land, finish the immigration process, collect baggage, and exit the airport. All thanks to the small size of the airport. From any location of the terminal, passengers can see all the gates. For passenger convenience, the airport does not charge a penny for parking. Being just an hour away from Dubai, Fujairah is a convenient option as an alternative for many passengers.

Conclusion

Fujairah Airport in the UAE is expected to establish an India route soon. SalamAir is the only airline currently operating from the airport. From July 11, EgyptAir will commence Fujairah operations, becoming the second scheduled operator. The airport operator is in advanced talks with an Indian airline to start flights to India. Flights may start by the end of this year.

Which airline do you think will connect India & Fujairah? Discuss in the comment section.