The Government plans to liberalise norms for allowing domestic airlines to fly overseas. But at the same time it plans to seek more financial information from existing and new airlines that seek to fly in international skies.
Currently, an Indian carrier must have a fleet of at least 20 aircraft and have flown in the domestic skies for five years before it is allowed to start international flights.
The need to liberalise the norms comes in the wake of several international airlines from the West and East Asia starting international flights from the day they start operations.
“A clearer picture on whether the 20-aircraft norm or the five-year stipulation will be liberalised will become clear when a Cabinet note is prepared. There is a feeling in the Government that something needs to be done to help Indian carriers,” a senior Government official said.
The decision to include financial surveillance comes following Kingfisher’s decision to withdraw all its international flights due to its poor financial health. The Kerala Government too is keen to launch an airline to operate flights between the State and West Asia.
> ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in
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