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KALINGARAJAN · Member Joined: 05 Jul 2015 Posts: 53

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/india-may-open-skies-to-countries-more-than-5000-km-away/article7474558.ece

India may open skies to countries more than 5,000 km away

New Delhi, July 28

The government is considering a proposal to open up the skies in a limited way, by allowing unlimited civilian flights from countries that are more than 5,000 km or seven hours of flying time away. It will also insist on reciprocity from countries with which it agrees to have an open sky policy.

The proposal, if cleared, will prove to be a bonanza for European carriers such as Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. It will also open up the market for airlines from Australia, Africa and South America.

No limits
An open-sky policy allows designated airlines of a country, with which an agreement has been signed, to operate any number of flights to India.

India will follow the existing system of signing bilaterals with other countries. Under this system, there is a stipulation either on the number of flights or seats that airlines from the two countries can operate to destinations in the other country. The Civil Aviation Ministry, which is working on a new aviation policy, will first have to accept the proposal before it becomes a part of the revised policy. The policy is expected to be put in the public domain by the end of this month or early next month, for consultation, before it is finalised.

Since certain aspects of the proposal, such as the one on foreign flying rights, have larger consequences, the proposal will also be scrutinised by other Ministries, including the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister’s office, before a final decision is taken.

The acceptance of the proposal in its current form could see Turkey, which is only about six hours away, being excluded from the countries with which India follows an open sky agreement. Turkish Airlines, the national airline of Turkey, has been keen to operate more flights to India.

Air India and Jet Airways will be the only two carriers from India that will gain immediately if the proposal is accepted as they are the only airlines with large aircraft capable of flying such long routes.

Civil Aviation ministry is planning to extend Open Sky policy to countries more than 5000 km or more than 7 hours of flight time away, likely to benefit EU carriers and also from Africa, Australia and Latin America.

Isn't it illogical to extend open sky policy without abolition of stupid 5/20 rule completely? The government should first make the environment friendly for Indian carriers by reducing ATF taxes and airport operating costs and doing away with archaic policies. Indian players, especially AI and 9W should become true global competitive airlines before Open skies are extended to other countries.

Nimish · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:06 pm Post subject:

Wow - trust the babus to come up with something as strange as this - thwarting ME3/ TK/ SQ, but opening up to "Western" carriers! Still - I hope it comes through - we need more connectivity, not less. Of course, open skies should apply to Indian carriers too - who should be able to start on these routes without 5/20 "naatak"
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nadarji · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 305

Except for the 6 (or was it 4) cities, doesnt India have kindof open skies with ASEAN as well, and SAARC?

Open skies to all except GCC for non-metro airports could be a easier policy than 8 hours flying. EK could start ordering really large and slow turboprops that would take 8 hours to reach India.

KALINGARAJAN · Member Joined: 05 Jul 2015 Posts: 53

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

The open skies is based on distance, which will keep out ASEAN, ME3 and even Turkey as well. Even now there are no European carriers clamoring to fly or increase service to other cities in India, except Delhi and they can do now it under the existing bilaterals.

Right now Jet (and also Indigo/Spicejet/Go Air) can fly wherever the want but have not done so. AI at least is trying. I have been hearing that they will scrap 5/20 and replace it with something else for the last 2 years, but there has no progress on that. Perhaps Indigo and Spicejet who are against it.

Nimish · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:34 pm Post subject:

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

So how does this brilliant policy work? Is the distance calculated from our border to the other countries' border? From airport to airport? Border to airport? What?

We could get some interesting results:

Allowed: ICN-BOM
Forbidden: ICN-DEL

Allowed: NBO-MAA
Forbidden: NBO-COK

Allowed: JED-GAU
Forbidden: JED-IXB

Allowed: SVO-ATQ
Forbidden: SVO-PNQ

Allowed: CAI-CCU
Forbidden: CAI-HYD

Allowed: IST-GOI
Forbidden: IST-BOM
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ameya · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:15 am Post subject:

Absolutely hilarious was my first reaction. As Jasepl rightly pointed out, a change in point of call will be the difference between what is allowed and what is not.

But then look at it this way

I5 - not allowed to start flights to KUL where group hub is

UK - Can fly to europe but not to Singapore where it wants to
But if it goes to FRA/CDG/MXP/FCO - AI will come crying

9W - has qualified for international long back with 5/20 but cant go beyond AUH - parental control

SG & 6E - will not be affected - rather would be well protected

G8 - Doesnt matter to them

Brilliant brains if true. Only make the policy lenient but in a way that the new comers are still not happy
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lavence7 · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:44 pm Post subject:

Rather than vaguely mentioning the distance, they should specify the countries included in the open sky policy, something like :

Beyond Ethiopia/Kenya on the South-West

Beyond Turkey on the West

Beyond China on the East &

Beyond Malyasia/Singapore ( maybe Indonesia) on the South East

i.e. all countries beyond above mentioned (or in that perimeter) would be eligible.

TKMCE · Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 957