GoM meet on civil aviation inconclusive

New Delhi: The Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting failed to arrive at a consensus on the decision to liberalize international flying routes for domestic carriers, restructure the Airports Authority of India and set the road map for reforms for civil aviation sector that has witnessed boom during last few years.
"The meeting remained inconclusive", Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters emerging out of the 45-minute GoM meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee at South Block on Wednesday evening.
According to sources, the meeting was also to decide on authorising the Civil Aviation Ministry to become the nodal agency to decide on which airline to be allowed to fly abroad on a case-to-case basis.
Currently only airlines with at least five years of experience, a minimum of 20 aircraft and a paid up capital of Rs 100 crore can fly abroad. At the Tuesday meeting Lalu Prasad demanded a clear cut formula to be kept ready so that no airline can claim it has been discriminated against.
According industry analysts, Deccan Aviation-Kingfisher Airlines are lobbying hard with the government to secure a favourable outcome on international flying licences.
04/01/08 K S Narayanan/Newindpress

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jan 2008, New Jan 2007