Airlines get a week more to file response on international operation norms

NEW DELHI: Government today gave one week's more time to domestic carriers to file their submission on its proposed new norms for international operations and revision of route dispersal guideline (RDG).

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Indian airlines called by the government here today.

"The airlines sought some more time to file their response to the issue at the meeting. They have been given time for one more week to do so," a ministry official said.

The meeting was attended by all seven domestic carriers - Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia India and Vistara.

Recently, the government had proposed to replace the 5/20 rule which makes it mandatory for airlines to have five years of domestic operations and a 20 aircraft fleet to become eligible for flying international.

Besides, it had also proposed to revise the RDG which makes it compulsory for domestic airlines to deploy a certain percentage of their capacity in under-served areas in the North East, J&K and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

It may be noted here that the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), the umbrella organisation of the local carriers, is vehemently opposed to the proposed relaxations and wants the government to continue with the existing policy.

While Air India has opted out of the FIA, AirAsia India and Vistara are not a part of the Federation.

The government wants to finalise the policy by mid-February.

"The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) on behalf of its member airlines strongly recommend that the current regime of 5/20 and RDG be continued as is, with minimal changes as recommended in the enclosed submission to ensure continued servicing of National Interests," FIA said in a letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry recently.

Further the RDGs require to evolve into a viability gap funding (VGF) model, rather than becoming a larger constraint on the airlines of India, so that the airline industry can deliver greater socio-economic impact where it is required and moves towards viability, it said.

Also it should ensure that the responsibility for domestic connectivity is equitably shared by all airlines as well as other important industry stakeholders, the letter said.

On the contrary, both Vistara and AirAsia India want the government to scrap the 5/20 rule all together and allow them operate on international routes as well.