The Hindu Business Line : Pvt airlines may be allowed more flights to Far East

However, the Far East is not the only destination to which the number of flights being operated by Indian carriers could see an increase in the foreseeable future.

The Government is to hold another round of air services bilateral talks with the UK here in April that could see the number of flights being operated between the two nations increase further.

The two sides recently successfully concluded the air services bilateral talks in London that saw the number of non-stop flights which the designated airlines of the two countries could operate touch 40 up from the previous figure of 19 weekly flights.

The Government has also allowed the two private sector airlines - Jet Airways and Air Sahara — to operate nine flights a week between them to the UK.

Meanwhile, official sources told Business Line that the Government has received requests from the private sector airlines seeking permission to operate more flights to destinations in the Far East.

Currently, the Government has allowed the two private sector airlines to operate a daily service on the Chennai-Kuala Lumpur sector.

Besides, while Jet Airways has been allowed to operate on the Mumbai-Singapore sector, Air Sahara has been given the nod to operate on the Delhi-Singapore route.

However, in order to ensure that the interest of Air India (AI) and Indian Airlines (IA) are not adversely affected the first right of refusal to operate more flights will remain with the two state-owned airlines.

"The Government will give due consideration to the fleet acquisition plans of AI and IA while taking a decision on which airline should be allowed to operate where," a senior Government official said.

However, this benefit to the two state-owned airlines will not be "open ended", officials said although they refuse to speculate on the timeframe till when the first right of refusal will remain with AI and IA.

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Pvt airlines may be allowed more flights to Far East