The Hindu Business Line : Airlines take to open skies

The decision of the Government to follow an open sky policy for a three-month period from December this year has received an "enthusiastic response" from international airlines.

Official sources told Business Line that more than eight leading airlines, including Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its subsidiary Silk Air, Malaysian Airlines (MAS), Dubai-based Emirates airlines, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air and Lufthansa, have applied to the Government for permission to operate either additional flights or bring in larger aircraft during the three-month period.

The sources indicated that under the limited open sky proposal, MAS could look at operating a daily service to Mumbai and offering a four-times-a-week connection between Malaysia and Bangalore.

Officials indicated that the response from the various airlines is likely to translate into between 3,000 and 4,000 additional air seats being made available on a weekly basis in the Indian market compared to the previous year.

In a break from the past and in an attempt to facilitate hassle-free travel, the Government in October this year decided to allow all international airlines, including those from the Gulf region, to operate flights during the three-month period. However, the international airlines will have to enter into commercial agreement with either Indian Airlines (IA) or Air India (AI) before permission is granted to them to launch operations to India.

The sources also indicated that some more international airlines were also likely to apply for permission to operate either more flights or bring in larger aircraft to India.

However, several of the European airlines have complained that they would not be able to offer additional services to passengers from and to India as the Government announcement had come too late.

The sources indicate that for the Indian market to reap benefits from an open sky policy, the decision should have been announced several months in advance.

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