This is excellent news for AMD and India. India needs to get more such point to point links in place, until we have hubs worth their salt. And even then, such point to point links will probably continue to make sense.
This is good news for UK resident gujjus, now they have a choice over AI for direct flts to AMD.
Regards intl airlines being awarded P2P to cities popular with NRI, IMHO the phising GOI should allow the pvt operators to fly to EU & USA from these destinations before opening the treasure to Foreign airlines. KU coud have been given this sector as a energy deal, EK has managed to muscle into many cities based on extradition of criminals using the more powerful MEA.
And even then, such point to point links will probably continue to make sense.
P2P can help the domestic airlines ease their present financial woes, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Amritsar, Jaipur, Agra, cochin, calicut, hyderabad, trivandrum, coimbatore, trichy, & Madras to name a few if not all cities can create over 50 city pairs to rest of the world. Be it ME, SE, EU or USA this will help the dom players reposition some of their present and expected aircraft, But for the phising AI / IA.