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How the ME3 took over India's long-haul market
- Maanav Parikh
- Oct 5
- 5 min read
Having been a regular on India-US flights for several years while I was younger, and having had most of my friends and family in the US, I noticed something peculiar. Despite having numerous non-stop options between India and the US, which we touched upon here, people seemed to prefer the ME3 carriers' (Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad) one-stop options, including myself. Heck, Emirates is often jockingly called the "National airline of India". In my experience, almost every flight on board Emirates and Qatar would be full of connecting passengers from India, which makes me wonder, how did the Middle Eastern airlines become the preferred long-haul airline for the Indian traveller? It comes down to 3 basic reasons!
Matter Of Convenience.
According to Business Standard, more than 70% of Indian international visitors prefer to transit through Middle Eastern hubs—and it's clear why. The convenience is unparalleled. Middle Eastern carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad (together known as the ME3) use a complex hub-and-spoke strategy to route traffic from point A to point C via a central hub at point B. However, they have elevated this approach to an art form, transforming their strategically positioned hubs into global super-connectors that connect dozens of cities across continents with flawless efficiency.
Due in large part to high point-to-point demand to the Gulf region, India has long been a crucial market for Gulf airlines. But after the 2000s, things changed drastically. Indian travelers started selecting these airlines for long-haul flights to North America, Europe, and other destinations in addition to the Gulf. The ME3's wide networks, excellent service standards, and capacity to provide one-stop connectivity from secondary Indian cities to international locations—as a result of its vast fleets and distance from India—were the main drivers of this change.
In addition to this convenience, ME3 carriers provide daily or even multiple daily departures from key Indian cities, allowing travelers greater flexibility in planning their trips. Tier 2 and 3 cities like Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, and Amritsar, as well as unserved markets like Bengaluru and Chennai, benefit from direct ME3 service, which eliminates the need to go to major, congested metros like Delhi or Mumbai. Their Middle Eastern hubs are well-connected to almost every major city in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, making them excellent for onward travel.
For example, travelers traveling from Chennai to Washington,n DC, or Hyderabad to Dallas face the inconvenience of multiple stops and immigration checks if flying with carriers like Air India or United and may have the hassle of transiting through busy hubs like Delhi or New York.. In contrast, ME3 airlines like Qatar Airways offer a streamlined one-stop journey via Doha, allowing passengers to clear immigration at their home airport and avoid the hassle of transiting through busy hubs.
The matter of Cost.
Indians have long been recognized for their price sensitivity, with many believing in spending wisely and avoiding excessive extravagance. This method naturally applies to travel decisions, particularly when it comes to booking flights. Nonstop long-haul flights can be too expensive for many budget-conscious tourists due to longer distances and higher operational costs. This is where Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways come in with an appealing alternative. Because of their strategic hubs and access to cheaper fuel, some airlines can provide one-stop flights at much lower costs. Their operating expenses are often lower, and the hub-and-spoke arrangement allows them to fill planes more efficiently, resulting in discounts for passengers.
The Idea of Comfort
In addition to their excellent pricing, ME3 airlines are renowned for providing the best onboard cabin experience and service in the world, which has drawn Indian passengers for years. Due to their poor and unpredictable product quality, numerous delays and cancellations, and poor customer service, Air India and the US3 do not have the best reputations on the market and are therefore not the ideal options for travelers. A lot of ME3 airlines also put a good focus on the comfort of Indian passengers as well, with the inclusion of Indian food and movies.
Furthermore, ultra-long flights—that is, longer than 13 hours—can be physically taxing. It's not particularly enjoyable to sit through such long trips, especially for elderly or family travelers. The journey may seem more taxing than thrilling due to the weariness, jet lag, and immobility. In contrast to the crowded airports in Europe, ME3 carriers are renowned for creating flight itineraries that minimize stopover times and maximize overall travel efficiency because of their enormous hubs. This makes trips more comfortable and less taxing. Additionally, they provide extensive baggage allowances, which are frequently greater than those offered by Western airlines, particularly in economy class. This makes them perfect for travelers who are shopping or carrying gifts.
Shifting Dynamics and the Future
It may all be routine as usual for the ME3, but as of late, a lot is changing in the aviation landscape. Airlines like Air India and the US3 are beefing up their existing cabin product to great standards, with Air India specifically emphasizing increasing its non-stop flights around the world with its new aircraft, with particular focus on non-stops to the US and Canada. I personally believe it is too early to say who might come out victorious, but it's safe to say that the ME3 dominance isn't going anywhere soon, as these airlines invest heavily in building new terminals (and airports in the Emirates case), adding more planes than eve,r and improving their already existing cabin products puts them 2 steps ahead of their competitors.
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