The Hindu Business Line : Air Deccan against hike in entry-level barriers

THE Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, today met the top brass of the three private airlines - Air Deccan, Air Sahara and Jet Airways - to get their views on the civil aviation sector.

At the meeting, private players were divided on hiking the entry norms. While the established players were keen on hiking the entry-level barriers to keep out non-serious players, this was opposed by Air Deccan.

While calling for some method to ensure that only "serious players" entered the industry, a senior private airline official who attended the meeting told Business Line that the airlines merely suggested that the Government should have some parameters to check the financial strength of the organisation before allowing them to operate.

``The two private airlines suggested entry-level barriers. But we opposed it as this move will harm the growing aviation industry in the country,'' the Managing Director, Air Deccan, Captain G.R. Gopinath, told newspersons.

Besides, issues such as rationalisation of air routes and developing Nagpur airport as a hub for domestic airlines was raised. In addition, the need for doing away with the monopolistic ground-handling situation at Kochi airport was also raised. The need for having more competitive infrastructure was also emphasised at the meeting.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Executive Officer of Jet Airways, Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Sahara, Mr U.K. Bose and the Managing Director of Air Deccan, Capt Gopinath, among others.