New Delhi: Indian carriers, with plans to start new flights to Abu Dhabi, could possibly launch from the current ‘winter schedule’ that begins November this year, with the civil aviation ministry hopeful of initiating the process of granting them the increased seat entitlements before the end of October.
“We have asked all our carriers to send us their plans for new flights to Abu Dhabi. The requests are expected to reach us in a week and we will allocate them seats from the increased bilateral entitlements. Once their requests reach us, we should process the requests in about two days and they can start their flights from the winter schedule,” said a senior civil aviation ministry official. He added that they had asked the airlines to send their requirements a week ago.
The requests for increase in flights have been sought on the basis of a three-fold increase in weekly seat entitlements between India and Abu Dhabi over a period of three years. This increase was also post-facto approved by the Cabinet.
The increase in bilateral entitlements has also been challenged in the Supreme Court by BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy, who has alleged that the bilateral entitlements were signed to facilitate the stake sale deal between Jet Airways and Etihad.
14/10/13 Mihir Mishra/Financial Express
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“We have asked all our carriers to send us their plans for new flights to Abu Dhabi. The requests are expected to reach us in a week and we will allocate them seats from the increased bilateral entitlements. Once their requests reach us, we should process the requests in about two days and they can start their flights from the winter schedule,” said a senior civil aviation ministry official. He added that they had asked the airlines to send their requirements a week ago.
The requests for increase in flights have been sought on the basis of a three-fold increase in weekly seat entitlements between India and Abu Dhabi over a period of three years. This increase was also post-facto approved by the Cabinet.
The increase in bilateral entitlements has also been challenged in the Supreme Court by BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy, who has alleged that the bilateral entitlements were signed to facilitate the stake sale deal between Jet Airways and Etihad.
14/10/13 Mihir Mishra/Financial Express
