Airlines get more time to give views on flying abroad

The government has provided domestic airlines another week to come up with suggestions on rules for flying abroad and connecting remote locations in the country.

This comes after a meeting between airline executives and aviation ministry officials on Wednesday failed to yield a consensus. The 5/20 rule, which allows airlines to fly overseas after five years of operations and if they have a fleet of 20 aircraft, has been contentious. Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said the rule is archaic. New airlines like Vistara and AirAsia are batting for its removal. But incumbents such as GoAir and IndiGo, led by industry association the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), have said the rule should stay because it has helped in developing regional air connectivity and because its removal will provide newer players an unfair advantage. Flying overseas offers airlines access to cheaper fuel and higher paying passengers.

"Airlines have been given one more week to submit their response after they sought more time from us today," a government official said after a meeting attended by representatives of Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia and Vistara. The FIA and Vistara have submitted their responses. "The FIA on behalf of its member airlines strongly recommends that the current regime be continued as is, with minimal changes," a letter by the FIA to the ministry said.