Govt expects to finalise new aviation policy in a month

The govt is also in the process of doing away with the '5/20' norms for domestic airlines

Government expects to finalise the much-awaited new aviation policy and revised international flying norms for domestic carriers within a month.

Though the consultation process with the stakeholders on the twin subjects are almost complete, the ministry might look at having some more discussions in this regard, a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said today.

"We are close to finalising them (new aviation policy and revised overseas flying norms. It is expected to be ready in about a month's time," the official said.

Besides, formulating a new civil aviation policy, the government is in the process of doing away with the '5/20' norms for domestic airlines.

Under the norms, only carriers having been in operation for at least five years and with a fleet of at least 20 aircraft are allowed to fly on international routes.

However, the proposed norms have come under criticism from both the established as well the start-up carriers with the latter having apprehensions about regional connectivity conditions.

The official also said that the search for the new chairman and managing director for the national carrier Air India is going on in the right direction.

"We are working on finding a successor (as incumbent CMD's tenure is ending in August). We are working to ensure that there is no discontinuity or gap in functioning of Air India," the official said.

The incumbent Rohit Nandan's tenure expires in August and the government has to take a decision before that.

When asked whether Nandan, who is already on an extended tenure, would be given another extension, the official said, the government is not ruling out any option.