The Hindu Business Line : Open sky offer to close on April 30

AFTER two successive extensions, the Government has now decided that the open sky offer, which allows airlines to operate additional flights into the country, will come to an end on April 30 when its current term runs out.

Official sources told Business Line that with the easing of the air seat situation on flights into-and-out from India the open sky offer would cease from April 30.

In an effort to ensure that air travellers do not face problem in travelling to-and-from the country, the Government followed an open sky policy from December last till February. However, with demand outstripping capacity for travel to-and-from India, the offer was extended in two phases till the end of April.

Late 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 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 deadline was extended again till April 30.

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

The `open sky' offer was taken up by several airlines including the Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airways, SriLankan and Kuwait Airways among others.

The decision, however, proved successful. Officials sources had earlier indicated that between November last and February foreign airlines offered more than 2,20,000 extra air seats, which was an increase of more than 200 per cent over what was offered during the open sky period in 2002-03.