Ministry keeps norm on overseas flights at five years of service

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry won’t shorten the minimum norm of five years of service for domestic carriers seeking to fly overseas as the group of ministers (GoM) discussing this has been disbanded, said two officials with knowledge of the matter.
The 12-member GoM had been formed in 2007 to take a view on a proposed civil aviation policy, of which the rule change on overseas operations was a part.
The move means that overseas services will be limited to carriers with five years of domestic experience and 20 aircraft.
“Private domestic airlines have been permitted to fly on overseas routes subject to specified guidelines,” civil aviation minister Praful Patel had said, referring to SpiceJet Ltd and Kingfisher, which had been granted international flying approval as they had completed five years.
InterGlobe Aviation Pvt. Ltd-run IndiGo has already sought approval to fly abroad next year when it turns five. Turning five this year are GoAir (India) Pvt. Ltd and Paramount Airways Pvt. Ltd, but they fall short on the fleet requirement front, with eight and two aircraft, respectively.
11/05/10 Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

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Categories: Foreign May 2010, Indian Aviation- In General May 2010