Airlines eye foreign routes as 5-yr clause nears end

Come April 2008 and Indian fliers will have more options to fly on to North America, Europe and possibly to Middle East. This will be possible for two reasons. The government is planning to do away with the five-year mandatory domestic flying experience for overseas operations. Heavy lobbying in this regard is on in New Delhi as this piece is written.
This is one of the reasons why the civil aviation policy has been delayed for some time. The Group of Ministers on civil aviation policy is split between two on the five-year mandatory experience clause. There have been several meetings in the past where ministers protesting the opening up of overseas routes to airlines other than the government carrier did not turn up.
But now, signals emanating from the corridors of power indicate that the airline operators may have a decision in this regard by December. Despite opposition from some ministries the government is trying to create a consensus in this regard.
Those supporting the opening up of overseas aerial routes argue that even less experienced players should be allowed to operate on international sectors. Many current players have displayed the financial strength and resilience needed to operate passenger routes since they got into operations.
They also argue that if government does not allow such operations it ll have to face charges of being discriminatory and partial.
09/10/07 Zee News

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Categories: Foreign Oct 2007, General Aviation Oct 2007, New Oct 2007