The Hindu Business Line : New air services bilateral policy in offing: Rudy

Mr. Rudy said the Government was well aware of the demands of various airlines on the issue but refused to reveal details on the policy formulation.

New Delhi , Oct. 15

THE Ministry of Civil Aviation is working on a `comprehensive air services bilateral policy', the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Rajiv Pratap Rudy, revealed here.

While indicating that the policy in formulation was likely to move away from the restrictive air services bilateral regime existing at present, Mr Rudy refused to divulge any further details about the proposal.

In an informal chat with newspersons, the Minister said that the Government was well aware of the demands of various airlines on the issue. Official sources had earlier indicated that the Government was planning to move away from the present regime under which bilateral air services agreements have been negotiated between the foreign airlines and the Indian carriers. Under the existing system, the two state-owned airlines - Air India and Indian Airlines - have been entering into various sorts of agreements such as code-share and block space arrangements.

Commenting on the recent announcement by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, allowing the designated airlines of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to operate flights to the four metro cities, Mr Rudy said that the announcement was the "beginning of a commitment". He said it would have a multiplier effect on the economy and tourism sector, among others.

"The announcement of the `Open sky policy' is like the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which cannot be stopped. It is most desirable," Mr Rudy said.

He, however, assured that all necessary steps would be taken to support both Indian Airlines and Air India in facing the competition.

Meanwhile, Air Sahara, while stating that it was ready to operate on foreign routes, noted that it was only the country's airlines that would promote tourism in India. "No airline of any other country has developed the tourism of another country. How can you expect a foreign airline to develop the tourism of another country? However, we are all geared to operate on foreign routes," Mr Alok Sharma, Vice-President, Air Sahara, said.

Officials added that the airlines would be in a position to start operating on international routes within three months of the Government allowing it to do so. However, officials refused to say to which part of the world the airline would operate its flights. "It is difficult to say to which part of the world we will operate. We will have to see the Government order," officials said.

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