In what could be a precursor to India providing more seats to Dubai based airlines, a preliminary meeting is scheduled to be held here on Monday (February 24) to take a view on this issue.
While officials in the Ministry of Civil Aviation deny any knowledge of such a meeting, sources maintain that a meeting is scheduled for Monday.
It will not be a problem to implement a favourable decision on allocating more seats to Dubai as it will been taken before the model code of conduct kicks in, sources maintain.
The decision to hold the meeting comes in the backdrop of India enhancing the number of seats that airlines from the neighbouring Emirate, Abu Dhabi are allowed to operate too.
In April last year, India and the United Arab Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding which saw a quantum leap in the number of seats that airlines from India and Abu Dhabi could operate to either destination jump to 50,000 a week from the current level of about 13,000 seats a week.
The MoU was approved by the Union Cabinet in September.
As a result of the agreement, Etihad has not only increased the frequency of flights to some cities here but also started operating larger aircraft to India.
Seeking an increase in seats entitlement, the Dubai-based airlines have argued that they have not seen an increase in their seat entitlement since 2008.
A study partially funded by the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines said allowing Emirates to operate 80,000 seats a week into India or carry 6.16 million passengers annually would lead to a direct contribution to the Indian economy of $363 million and have a multiplier effect of $720 million.