The Hindu Business Line : Allow pvt airlines to fly to Gulf region, says Tourism Ministry

THE Ministry of Tourism has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation asking that the proposed contours of allowing private airlines into the international skies be revisited.

In a communication to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Tourism Ministry has pointed out that the proposal of not allowing domestic private sector airlines to the Gulf region for the first few years of opening up of the aviation sector did not "provide a level playing field" to Indian carriers.

"What sense does it make to allow airlines from Gulf countries, which are mere blips in the international map, to operate to India, while private sector airlines from India are not permitted to fly there," a senior official of the Ministry of Tourism said.

When contacted, the Minister for Tourism, Ms Renuka Chowdhury, confirmed that a communication to this effect had been sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Tourism Ministry has also pointed to the fact that allowing private sector airlines from India to operate to the Gulf region will benefit the "poor sections of Indian society like artisans and masons," who travel from various parts of the country, including Kerala, to earn a basic living in West Asia.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has already indicated that the domestic private sector airlines would soon be allowed to fly to more international destinations. A note is being prepared by the Ministry for consideration of the Union Cabinet to allow private sector airlines to operate to all parts of the globe, except to the Gulf region during the first few years of the opening up of the Indian skies.

The Ministry has sought the comments of various other Ministries, including Tourism and External Affairs, before moving the Cabinet note.

Currently, the two private sector airlines — Jet Airways and Air Sahara — are allowed to fly from India to the six nations in the SAARC. The two airlines have already started regular flights from different points in India to Sri Lanka and Nepal. Besides, Jet Airways is also looking at starting regular flights to Bangladesh.