New Delhi: In a move that could give an impetus to the Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways buying a stake in Jet Airways, the Government is planning to issue directions that an aircraft de-registered by the Indian aviation regulatory authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), can leave the country even if the company that has imported the aircraft has unpaid dues.
This move will also help companies that have leased aircraft to now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines and are having problems taking them back.
“Till now, the Government was not interfering as we looked at it as a commercial issue between various parties. But now, it has become a burning issue. So a meeting was held with the DGCA and the considered opinion was that India will be in violation of the Cape Town Convention on leasing of aircraft if it does not allow a de-registered aircraft to leave the country because of unpaid dues,” a senior Government official said.
This is said to be one of the issues on which Etihad wants clarity before it takes a decision on whether to pick up a stake in Jet Airways.
23/02/13 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line
