The Hindu Business Line : International airlines to have it easy

New Delhi, Aug. 16 In a move that should facilitate international airlines operations to India, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation has made some amendments that include airlines not having to file their fares at the time of seeking permission to operate flights to the country.

“Four or five important amendments or modifications have been made in the Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) keeping in mind the market realities. At the moment, tariff is decided by the market and soon commercial agreements, which were earlier necessary between Air India and international airlines, would be a thing of the past.

“These would not be essential in the new AIC. With the new AIC being issued, an international airline that has an operating authorisation would have to do nothing, while those who apply afresh would find it much easier to begin operations,” an official said.

Code share

The new guidelines have also simplified the procedures for operating code share flights and operating flights with aircraft that have been leased.

International airline officials have welcomed the move as it would bring more transparency into the system. “However, the Government needs to go one step further and provide a clear timeline for the final proposal to be cleared so that airlines can market the flights better,” a senior international airline official said.

An airline has to submit a number of documents including a copy of the letter of designation, a copy of the instrument relating to incorporation of the airline, including details about equity participation and the names and nationalities of the Board of Directors of the airlines at the time of applying for permission to fly here.

Steady increase

In the last few years, there has been a steady increase in international airlines operating to India.

While established airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Sri Lankan, Air France and Emirates have been steadily increasing their presence by adding more cities within the country to their global network, a number of new airlines such as Etihad, Jazeera and the Turkish Airlines, THY have also started operations to India.