The Hindu Business Line : Govt likely to extend open sky policy by a month

IN an effort to facilitate hassle-free peak season air travel to and from India, the Government is likely to extend the limited open sky policy by a month till the end of April this year.

Official sources told Business Line that a final decision on whether the limited open sky policy, which is to end on March 31, should be extended by a month or not is likely within the next day or two. The decision, as and when it is taken, would be the second successive time that the Government would be extending the current open sky policy.

In October last year, the Government allowed all international airlines, including those from the Gulf region, to operate additional flights into the country for a period between December last year till February this year. However, with demand for air seats into and out of the country rising and several airlines not being able to offer seats to its passengers, the Government decided to extend the `open sky policy' till the end of March this year.

The international airlines, however, will have to enter into commercial agreements with either Air India or Indian Airlines before permission is granted to them for launching their India operations.