New Delhi: The air services pact signed by India and Abu Dhabi in April, allowing a four-fold increase in weekly seat entitlements for airlines between the two destinations, has been sent to the Cabinet for 'post-facto approval'.
The pact helped seal the Jet-Etihad deal. The move to secure a Cabinet nod, a first for such a bilateral air services agreement, is learnt to have been initiated at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office.
In 2011, the CAG had criticised the expansion of flying rights given to airlines based in the Middle-East saying it went against the interests of state-owned Air India.
"The PMO wanted us to get it approved by the Cabinet. We have sent it for post-facto approval. As a result, the increase in bilateral entitlements pact will be kept on hold until the approval comes from the Cabinet," said a senior civil aviation ministry official.
25/05/13 Mihir Mishra/Indian Express
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The pact helped seal the Jet-Etihad deal. The move to secure a Cabinet nod, a first for such a bilateral air services agreement, is learnt to have been initiated at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office.
In 2011, the CAG had criticised the expansion of flying rights given to airlines based in the Middle-East saying it went against the interests of state-owned Air India.
"The PMO wanted us to get it approved by the Cabinet. We have sent it for post-facto approval. As a result, the increase in bilateral entitlements pact will be kept on hold until the approval comes from the Cabinet," said a senior civil aviation ministry official.
25/05/13 Mihir Mishra/Indian Express
