Asean airlines may be allowed to operate unlimited flights to Delhi, other metros

20 Jul 2012 2040 | Business & Trade Fairs

The Indian Government could allow airlines from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) to initially operate unlimited flights between their capitals and New Delhi.

Eventually, the exemption could be extended to flights to cities including Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

The acceptance of this proposal by the Indian Government will update the 2003 India-Asean open sky agreement that allows carriers to operate daily flights to various metros, including New Delhi.
Tourist destinations

They are also allowed to operate unlimited flights to 18 tourist destinations including Kochi, Thiruvanathapuram, Kozhikode, Tiruchi, Port Blair and Visakhapatnam. Now, India is likely to follow China’s example in liberalising its air services agreement with the Asean, officials indicated.

Generally speaking, such international agreements are on a reciprocal basis, so Indian carriers may also be allowed to operate more flights to the Asean region.

The 10-member regional bloc includes Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Official sources told Business Line that a clear picture on the roadmap for the possible opening and the time-frame to achieve this could emerge at a meeting between Asean countries and India, scheduled to be held here in August.

The acceptance of the proposal is unlikely to go down well with Indian carriers. Airlines from India often complain that international airlines take away Indian traffic bound for third countries instead of carrying passengers from India to the country to which the airline belongs.

This, airlines from India feel, is affecting their profitability.
Full potential

Earlier this month, the visiting Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, had called on India to further liberalise its air services agreement with Singapore.

The visiting dignitary was of the opinion that taking such a step will help achieve the full potential between India and Singapore.