Limited open sky policy likely

Airlines will be able to increase flights to and from India during peak season

Air travel during the peak season will be hassle free as the government is likely to allow a limited time open sky policy for international airlines. This is a part of the government move to allow airlines increase the number of flights to and from India during the peak season.

The limited open sky policy will come into effect from November 15, 2004, and will be in force for three months. The proposal will be announced by the end of this month so that international airlines have enough time to plan their flight schedules.

As a part of the policy, during these three months, all international airlines will be allowed to operate any number of flights to India.

Currently international airlines have to enter into commercial agreements with either Air-India or Indian Airlines to launch their India operations under the limited open sky policy. The Government's decision to follow an open sky policy during 2003-04 alone resulted in international airlines adding more than 2,60,000 additional seats on their flights into and out of India.

"We expect the tourist inflow to grow at least by 20 per cent this year. This move will take care of this increase in traffic," said the official.

Sources also said that ministry of tourism has also been pressing the government to follow a limited time open-sky policy. The government has also set up a group of ministers with tourism minister, civil aviation minister and railway minister as members to look at an overall development of tourism in the country.

"There has been demand for a comprehensive policy framework for the development of tourism in the country. The move to allow limited open sky during the peak season is a part of this," said a civil aviation ministry officials.

This move comes at a time when the government is considering to allow domestic private carriers to fly to Asean countries.

Meanwhile, the airline of at least nine countries including Korea, Sweden, Taiwan and Austria are likely to be allowed to operate more flights to India. They will be allowed to operate to Indian metros in the first phase, sources said.