New Delhi : The Ministry of Civil Aviation has proposed increasing the air connectivity between India and the UAE as also Israel. Official sources said that the Government has poposed enhancing entitlement for operation of air services between India and the UAE by seven flights each week in each direction. The airlines designated by the UAE can utilise the entitlement for operations between Sharjah and Mumbai, the officials said. The designated airline will be allowed to offer 1,120 seats a week in each direction.

This move could see the Sharjah-based low-cost airline Air Arabia, launch operations to India. the airline's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Adel Ali, said that Air Arabia was keen to start operations to the country. At present, Emirates and Etihad Airways from the UAE operate regular flights to India. Meanwhile, the government has also proposed allowing the designated airlines of Israel to operate a daily flight to any two airports here. El Al, Israel's national airline, at present operates between Tel Aviv and Mumbai.