Air India has posted a 19.5 per cent rise in sales revenue in the Gulf-India route in the past three months, a senior official of the Indian national carrier said.

Gulf remains the biggest market for Air India, and Dubai and Sharjah are emerging as important hubs, Air India regional manager in the Gulf, Middle East and Africa Abhay Pathak was quoted as saying in The Economic Times.

'The results reflect a rebound in the region's air travel sector 'during this period, the seat factor went up from 71 per cent to 80 per cent which could be achieved due to right sizing', he said.

The Indian carrier operates nearly 200 flights each week in the region.