Press Trust Of India / New Delhi Nov 14, 2009, 01:00 IST
Foreign airlines can now use larger aircraft and operate additional flights to India during the peak tourist season under the fresh guidelines issued by the government.
The guidelines, outlined by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), clip the right of national carrier Air India to clear the extra flights through a No-Objection Certificate (NOC), official sources said.
The new rule allows foreign airlines to mount additional capacity of up to 10 per cent of their entitlements during periods of high air traffic, including the peak season, natural calamities or major international events. This means these airlines may deploy larger aircraft or operate additional flights. The airlines are subject to the bilateral air traffic agreements between India and the respective countries.
Earlier, the R N Kaw Committee, set up to strengthen the DGCA, had recommended that availing of the NOC from the national carrier should be done away with in order to clear extra-section flights of its competitors. This recommendation has been accepted by the government, which expects that similar reciprocal rights would be granted to Indian carriers by the foreign governments whose airlines are being allowed to mount additional capacity, the sources said.
Content Guide
