Flights between the Gulf and India are entering a new phase of competition, and Emirates is positioning itself at the center of that shift. While India’s own airlines are rapidly expanding their international networks, the Dubai carrier is upgrading aircraft, cabins and, potentially, future capacity on key India routes. For travelers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and across the Indian diaspora, these moves could affect fares, routing choices and the overall in-flight experience when flying to Indian cities large and small.
Why India Has Become Ground Zero for Gulf Carrier Competition
India is now one of the most important aviation markets in the world, and that status is shaping how global airlines plan their growth. In the 2024 fiscal year, India handled hundreds of millions of passengers and became the world’s third largest civil aviation market by overall traffic. Internationally, demand is surging not only from traditional gateways like Delhi and Mumbai, but also from fast-growing secondary cities with large expatriate communities and booming business ties abroad.
At the same time, traffic between India and the Middle East has exploded. Travel data shows the Middle East has become India’s number one international region, with the United Arab Emirates alone accounting for a significant share of all international seats to and from India. Dubai International Airport handled more than 90 million passengers in 2024, and India was its single largest country market by volume. For Emirates, which uses Dubai as a one-stop hub to connect India to Europe, North America and Africa, continued access to Indian cities is central to its business model.
On the Indian side, carriers such as Air India and IndiGo are building out their long-haul and regional networks. According to the latest figures, Air India is now the largest airline on India’s international routes by passenger share, with IndiGo not far behind. Middle East network airlines, including Emirates, still carry millions of Indian travelers every year, but they face a more competitive landscape than they did a decade ago. This tug-of-war over market share is the backdrop for Emirates’ latest moves in India.
Seat Caps, Bilateral Talks and the Prospect of More Emirates Flights
One major reason flights to India feel crowded and costly on peak dates is that growth is constrained not only by demand and airline strategy, but by bilateral air service agreements between governments. For years, the number of weekly seats available to Emirates and other UAE carriers on India routes has been capped, and Emirates executives have repeatedly indicated that they have been unable to add capacity to India for about a decade.
In recent months, there has been a renewed push from the UAE side to revisit those limits. Emirates’ senior commercial leadership has publicly expressed hope that ongoing talks between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi will translate into some easing of seat caps on India–UAE flights. Diplomats and business groups in the Gulf have argued that liberalizing the air corridor, including allowing more flights and larger aircraft, could generate more than a billion dollars in consumer savings over time by bringing more capacity into the market and putting downward pressure on fares.
For travelers, any relaxation of seat limits could ultimately mean more flight options on trunk routes such as Dubai–Mumbai and Dubai–Delhi, but the biggest changes are likely to emerge on links to secondary Indian cities. Analysts expect that if additional rights are granted, Emirates and other UAE carriers will be especially keen to deepen their presence in price-sensitive markets with large diasporas, where more competition quickly translates into noticeably cheaper tickets.
New Aircraft, New Cabins: How Emirates Is Upgrading India Routes
While Emirates waits for clarity on future capacity rights, it is reshaping the India–Dubai experience through aircraft and cabin upgrades. In late 2024 and early 2025, the airline unveiled its first Airbus A350-900 and began rolling it out on select routes. By January 26, 2025, the state-of-the-art A350 was scheduled to debut on flights to both Mumbai and Ahmedabad, giving Indian travelers their first taste of the carrier’s newest long-haul aircraft on a key Gulf corridor.
The A350 is configured with three cabin classes, including lie-flat Business Class, a dedicated Premium Economy cabin and a refreshed Economy Class. Emirates has emphasized the aircraft’s fuel efficiency, lower noise levels and modern interiors as selling points, particularly on medium-haul flights where comfort often matters just as much as price. For the India market, the deployment of the A350 is also a signal that Emirates is committed to protecting and growing its share of premium travelers, from business executives to leisure passengers willing to pay extra for more space.
Beyond the A350, Emirates is systematically refurbishing parts of its Boeing 777 fleet. In 2025, it introduced a retrofitted 777 on the busy Mumbai–Dubai route, offering Premium Economy cabins alongside refreshed Business and Economy sections. Similar cabin upgrades are being rolled out on other key regional routes. For flyers connecting from North America or Europe through Dubai to India, this means a more consistent in-flight product from end to end, which can make the difference when choosing between Emirates, another Gulf carrier or a non-stop flight on an Indian or European airline.
Premium Economy and the Quiet Battle for the Indian Middle Class
One of the most important competitive shifts on India routes is happening in the middle of the cabin. Emirates is steadily expanding its Premium Economy offering across major Indian cities, with services already introduced or announced on routes to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and, more recently, Kolkata. The product is marketed as a step up from Economy, featuring wider seats, more legroom, upgraded dining and elevated service, without the full price tag of Business Class.
This expansion is specifically aimed at India’s growing middle and upper-middle class travelers: professionals who fly often for work, families willing to invest more for long journeys, and older travelers prioritizing comfort. Historically, many Indian flyers have had to choose between relatively cramped Economy seats or expensive Business Class fares. The emergence of Premium Economy on a wider range of routes offers a third option and could spur similar investments by rival airlines serving India.
For travelers, the impact is twofold. First, there are now far more opportunities to book Premium Economy on India–Dubai legs as part of longer trips, for instance from New York to Kochi via Dubai or from London to Kolkata. Second, the presence of a competitive mid-tier product may push Indian and European carriers to sharpen their own offerings, whether through improving Economy comfort, refining Business Class or launching their own Premium Economy cabins on overlapping routes. Over time, that competition can enhance value even for passengers who continue to book the lowest fares.
How More Competition Could Influence Fares and Routing Choices
As Indian carriers increase international capacity and Gulf airlines upgrade aircraft and cabins, the pricing dynamics for flights to India are gradually evolving. Data from India’s civil aviation authorities show that local airlines have been gaining share on international routes and now carry nearly half of all passengers to and from the country. At the same time, long-term trends indicate that international fares have fallen significantly over the past decade as low-cost carriers expanded and capacity grew.
However, the impact is uneven across routes. Reports examining a potential open skies style agreement between India and the UAE suggest that trunk routes like Delhi–Dubai and Mumbai–Dubai are currently operating at or near saturation, meaning fare reductions there might be modest even if capacity grows. On the other hand, flights between Dubai and smaller Indian cities, where prices are highly sensitive to competition and seasonal demand, could see sharper fare declines if more seats are allowed and new services are launched.
For many travelers, a crucial question is whether to fly non-stop to India on an Indian or European carrier, or route through a hub like Dubai on Emirates. As competition intensifies and new cabins appear, hub connections can become more attractive. A traveler from Chicago or Los Angeles, for instance, may find that a one-stop itinerary via Dubai on an A350 or refurbished 777 offers not only competitive pricing but also better in-flight comfort than some older, direct options. In peak seasons, when non-stop fares often surge, the ability of Gulf carriers to add capacity via larger aircraft may help moderate price spikes.
What This Means for US and European Travelers Heading to India
For travelers starting in the United States or Europe, Emirates’ evolving India strategy influences itineraries, connection times and the quality of each segment. Emirates and its Gulf peers have long marketed themselves as convenient one-stop options linking secondary cities in the West to a broad range of destinations in India via Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi. As Emirates strengthens its India operations with next-generation aircraft and more refined cabins, that proposition becomes even more compelling.
One practical effect is that itineraries to India via Dubai may now feature advanced aircraft on both legs. A passenger flying from New York, Boston or San Francisco to Mumbai through Dubai could find themselves on a flagship widebody on the long-haul sector and then an A350 or upgraded 777 on the shorter India leg. This reduces the jarring shift in comfort that sometimes occurred when connecting from a brand new long-haul aircraft to an older regional jet or unrefurbished widebody.
Another implication is scheduling flexibility. Emirates has already introduced multiple daily frequencies on several India routes. If bilateral negotiations lead to additional seat rights, the carrier could expand frequencies further, giving long-haul passengers more departure and arrival options to match onward connections. That, in turn, can reduce total travel time and the risk of long layovers, especially during busy holiday periods when seats into India are at a premium.
Practical Tips: How to Take Advantage of the New Competitive Landscape
Travelers planning trips to India in late 2025 and 2026 can already begin to factor these developments into their bookings. One of the simplest steps is to pay close attention to the specific aircraft type and cabin configuration on each leg of a potential itinerary. On routes such as Dubai–Mumbai and Dubai–Ahmedabad, the presence of the Airbus A350 or a newly retrofitted Boeing 777 can materially improve the experience, particularly in Premium Economy and Business Class, but even in Economy.
It is also worth monitoring schedule updates and fare trends on India routes as bilateral discussions progress. If India and the UAE agree to a gradual increase in seat capacity, budget-conscious travelers may find more competitive fares on off-peak dates or on routes to secondary cities. Those traveling to or from smaller Indian airports may want to compare emerging one-stop options via Dubai with existing connections via major Indian hubs, as new Gulf services can sometimes undercut domestic connections both on price and total journey time.
Finally, loyalty considerations are likely to matter more as competition intensifies. With Indian carriers ramping up international service and Emirates reinforcing its presence with new hardware, travelers who frequently fly between India, the Gulf, Europe and North America may gain additional value from carefully choosing a primary airline and alliance partner. Earning and redeeming miles on routes where premium cabins and newer aircraft are being introduced can maximize both comfort and long-term savings.
The Bottom Line: A More Dynamic Future for India–Gulf Air Travel
Flights to India are becoming one of the most contested battlegrounds in global aviation, and Emirates remains a central player. While Indian airlines are rapidly growing their international reach, the Dubai-based carrier is responding with a blend of fleet renewal, cabin innovation and strategic lobbying for more access. The introduction of the A350 and expanded Premium Economy offerings on India routes are not isolated upgrades, but part of a broader push to stay ahead in a market that is both enormous and increasingly competitive.
For travelers, the net result is a gradual improvement in choice, comfort and, in many cases, value. Even without a full open skies agreement, incremental increases in capacity and the entrance of more modern aircraft can help restrain fares and raise service standards. Should India and the UAE move toward more liberal air service arrangements over the next few years, the effect could be even more pronounced, especially for flyers using the Gulf as a bridge between far-flung points and Indian cities.
In practical terms, Emirates’ evolving India playbook means that anyone planning a trip to the subcontinent in the coming seasons should look beyond the headline ticket price and consider how aircraft type, cabin class and routing through Dubai align with their own priorities. As competition heats up, those who pay attention to these nuances will be best placed to take advantage of a more dynamic, traveler-friendly era in India–Gulf air travel.