Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has ruled out any move to relax the eligibility criteria stipulated for airlines planning to enter foreign skies.
He said the rules specifying that an airline should have five years of continuous flying experience and should possess a minimum fleet of 20 aircraft before starting international services would be strictly adhered to as it was approved and laid down by the Cabinet.
The decision will hit hard start-up airlines such as Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet, which are keen to start international services.
Jet Airways and Air Sahara, trying to get a foot hold on international routes, would heave a sigh of relief as they were facing cut throat competition from the new entrants even in the domestic market.
Air-India and Indian Airlines would also benefit from the decision, as new entrants wIll not be able to compete with them in international circuits.
The new entrants had demanded that the criterion of five years of domestic operations be slashed to two or three years.