Understanding Emirates’ Code-share Partnerships in India
April has been a very happening month for Emirates. First there was the planned maintenance of runway at Dubai airport. This meant a 25% reduction in the overall number of flights. This was one of the reasons there was no space in economy class in DXB-LHR route for 13 days.
Then, Emirates announced a partnership with AWA which enhanced its connectivity in West Africa.
Now, Emirates has announced a code-share partnership with SpiceJet – LCC based in India. At present, the partnership awaits regulatory approvals.
Incidentally, this will not be the first such partnership for a Middle Eastern carrier. Qatar Airways also has an arrangement with Indigo – the largest Indian airline and also a LCC.
It must be noted that Emirates already has a code-share arrangement with flydubai.
Emirates, flydubai and SpiceJet Code-share Details
Emirates provides direct connectivity from Dubai to 9 cities in India
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Hyderabad
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- Thiruvananthapuram
SpiceJet flies direct from / to Dubai to ‘
- Ahmedabad
- Amritsar
- Delhi
- Hyderabad
- Jaipur
- Kochi
- Kozhikode / Calicut
- Mangalore
- Madurai
- Mumbai
- Pune
Finally, flydubai services the following airports in India
- Ahmedabad
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Hyderabad
- Kochi
- Kozhikode / Calicut
- Mumbai
Note that till Dubai runway works is completed, some of flights operated by flydubai and SpiceJet will operate from DWC airport and not DXB. However, this will be the case only till May 30, 2019.
The best way to represent this partnership will be through a Venn diagram.
A lot of interesting insights emerge from this
- Emirates and flydubai code-share led to the addition of only one destination – Kozhikode.
- flydubai tickets are typically at a discount to Emirates’, so the arrangement must have led to increase in traffic for those travelling onward to Europe, US etc.
- Partnership with SpiceJet makes a lot of sense – as many as 5 new destinations have been added – Amritsar, Jaipur, Madurai, Mangalore and Pune
- Apart from the above 5 destinations, SpiceJet has a large pan-India network. The partnership will also help Emirates cater to cities like Goa, Hubli, Guwahati, Tuticorin, Vishakapatnam.
Final Thoughts
This is a win-win situation for both Emirates and SpiceJet.
Emirates would likely get feed-in traffic from India, something Etihad had in mind when they acquired stake in Jet Airways.
SpiceJet could become a preferred alternative to Indigo and Air India for travelling to Dubai.
However, the logistics of arrangement would not be straightforward. SpiceJet is a low-cost airline and Emirates is a full-service carrier.
