Policy on route-sharing for airlines soon

Having allowed private domestic carriers to operate in six SAARC countries, the civil aviation ministry would 'shortly' come out with a comprehensive policy framework for sharing of unused bilateral air-traffic rights between the public sector and private carriers, for operating to these international destinations.

Informed sources in the ministry said that the 'comprehensive guidelines' would go into how much of these rights are to be shared by the private carriers, to what extent and the duration for which these airlines have been operating in the country.

 

"We cannot allow a new airline to emerge tomorrow and ask for rights to fly abroad, or saying we have 100 planes and we will deploy 99 for international operations and one for domestic," the sources said.

 

The ministry was formulating a comprehensive framework and "a decision

is expected shortly," but added that the policy framework "may have to be vetted by the Union cabinet" as other ministries like external affairs would also have their say in the process.

 

The government has already forwarded the decision of the Union cabinet, for allowing domestic private carriers to fly abroad, to the SAARC nations for their response and final clearance to enable Indian private airlines to start operations there.

 

Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy had recently said that a mechanism would be evolved for permitting the use of unused bilateral air-traffic rights by Indian Airlines and the private carriers.

 

Indian Airlines currently operates 30 flights a week to SAARC destinations whereas the total number of bilateral rights stands at 88.