After fifteen long months, 46 trips between Delhi and Abu Dhabi and countless hours of discussions and volumes of emails, the deal between Jet Airways and Etihad Airlines was finally hammered out. Aside from the physical volume of discussions, the closed door drama and remonstrations between the parties have made this saga a story in itself, aptly named 'Project Sand Dunes'.

The negotiations had collapsed thrice before and the eventual valuation of Jet at USD3.5 billion raised a howl from the Etihad side. This was the valuation for a loss making airline, where the stock market had valued at just USD400 million and a debt pile worth USD2.1 billion. From that point, negotiations, back channel discussions, remonstrations and praises, eventually lead to an agreement that was amenable to all.

After the approval by the Indian cabinet, In the end, both parties gained, with Jet getting a much needed capital infusion of funds, global network of not only airlines but services as well. For Etihad, the gain is a gateway to the booming Indian market, making it more competitive as against its rivals in the Middle East.