NEW DELHI: With the big Gulf carriers not on the scene for now is being seen as an “opportunity” for Indian carriers to get the business of flying between India and the rest of the world via hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

“We are easing the domestic to international transit for Indian hubs. For instance, passengers flying from Varanasi to New York via Delhi will soon be able to get their immigration and customs done at Varanasi itself and then just board the connecting flight at Mumbai. Attempts are being made to do the same on the way back,” an airline executive said.The challenge here is the relatively lower number of wide body aircraft with Indian carries, with only Air India having about 60 of them and IndiGo operating six wet leased (hired with operating crew) of a European airline. Emirates and Qatar Airwayshave about 270 and 150 wide body planes, respectively. The other challenge, common globally, is of fly from abroad and then taking a connecting domestic flight.