The Hindu Business Line : Govt mulls allowing pvt airlines to Gulf

New Delhi April 5 The Government ban on private sector airlines operating flights to the Gulf region including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia could be lifted by the end of the year. If that happens, the monopoly of Air India and Indian to fly to the lucrative Gulf regions would end.

In an informal interaction with newspersons, a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the Government was examining such a proposal.

"At present, only the state-owned airlines can fly to the Gulf region. This is based on a Cabinet decision that prohibits private sector airlines from flying there before December 31 this year. It is possible that after that date, private sector airlines could also be allowed to operate to the Gulf region. No firm decision has yet been taken on this matter," a senior Government official said.

In December 2004, the Government allowed private sector domestic airlines that have completed five years of operations and have a fleet strength of 20 aircraft to operate flights to all international destinations except those in the Gulf region. As per the Cabinet decision, the moratorium is in place till December this year.

Since December 2004, only Air India, Air India Express and Indian Airlines have been allowed to operate flights to the various regions in the Gulf including UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The lifting of the ban would pave the way for Jet Airways and Air Sahara to look at operating to the Gulf region also. At the moment, these are the two private sector airlines allowed international operations.