Airbus A380 may soon make its way into Indian skies

NEW DELHI|MUMBAI: The ministry of civil aviation will likely this week or early next approve the operations of the Airbus A380 planes into some of India’s airports, its secretary said on Thursday, a move which will give foreign carriers considerable muscle in the market over their local rivals.

“We have prima facie approved the proposal,” KN Srivastava, secretary at the aviation ministry, told ET.

Srivastava was also heading the committee formed to look at whether A380s should be allowed to operate into India. “The final approval, however, has to come from the minister,” he said, adding this should take a couple of days.

Earlier this week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation sent a proposal to the ministry for approval, said its chief Arun Mishra.

Both the DGCA and officials at the ministry have spoken to all stakeholders such as Indian carriers and airports before taking a decision to allow the entry of the planes to India. An Airbus spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to an emailed query.