The Hindu Business Line : Cabinet meet today on allowing pvt airlines fly abroad

THE two major private sector domestic airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara, could be given permission to fly to more international destinations on Wednesday.

The Union Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet here on Wednesday, is likely to consider a proposal to allow those private airlines which have completed at least five years of operations in India to fly to more destinations abroad.

The Cabinet approval for the proposal would mean that private airlines would get the nod to operate flights to more international destinations except for those in the Gulf region.

The Government is likely to stipulate that private airlines will be allowed to operate flights to the Gulf region only after a gap of a few years.

But despite the possible Cabinet nod to private airlines to operate to more international destinations, it is likely to take the airlines some months before they are in a position to start regular flights.

Currently, the two airlines are allowed to fly only between India and the six countries forming the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Both the airlines have launched regular services from India to Colombo and Kathmandu.