PM to review revised aviation draft policy today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review the revised draft civil aviation policy on Tuesday, sources said.

According to sources, Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey will give an hour-long presentation before the prime minister. Last week, the minister of state for civil aviation and Choubey had briefed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the broad contours of the policy.

Choubey had told reporters last week the revised draft policy would be put up for public comments by September first week. It is expected that the government will revise the '5/20 rule' for airlines to operate international flights. According to this rule, an airline in India requires five years of domestic operations and 20 aircrafts in its fleet to fly on international routes.

An earlier version of the policy, launched in November last year, was unanimously opposed by the industry and couldn't be launched after much criticism. Choubey, who took charge in June this year, has re-drafted the policy.

The draft policy will also look at rationalisation of airport costs, apart from enhancing regional air connectivity, bringing down jet fuel cost, promoting air cargo, maintenance, repair and operations and helicopter operations and improving passenger facilitation.