Global airline plying rule changes go to other ministries

Centre wishes to replace the current '5/20' rule

The Union civil aviation ministry has sent its proposed revision of rules for airlines wishing to ply abroad for inter-ministerial discussion, prior to being sent for Cabinet approval, government sources said on Tuesday.

The government has had discussion with those in the sector. Both incumbent and start-up airlines have opposed certain provisions of the proposed guidelines.

The government wishes to replace the current '5/20' rule, that an airline must have operated for at least five years in India and have a minimum of 20 planes before being allowed to ply abroad.

Jet Airways, Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo are so qualified.

According to the proposal, airlines will have to acquire credits based on the routes and distances they fly to earn international flying rights.

Airlines will need to earn at least 300 domestic flying credits before they fly international routes of more than six hours and at least 600 credits to operate on shorter routes to the Gulf and Southeast Asia (less than six hours).

On the airlines’ opposition to the proposed rules,  minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, “There are different opinions. We will take into factor all the views.”

The Federation of Indian Airlines, an association which represents private carriers such as IndiGo, Jet, SpiceJet and Go Air, has said the new proposals serve the commercial interest of the two new airlines, Vistara and AirAsia India.

It has also opposed certain provisions on raising the deployment of aircraft in remote areas of the country.

The new airlines have opposed different slabs for long-haul and short-haul international travel. AirAsia India's chief executive, Mittu Chandilya, told Business Standard last month the proposed rules discriminated against budget airlines.

The new airlines have also opposed the government’s move to link international flying with the route dispersal guidelines.