Private airlines can fly to China

The number of point of services to be increased from present 2 to 14, and to 42 in summer 2006.

Paving the way for Indian private carriers like Jet Airways and Air Sahara to fly to China, the two governments today signed an agreement to designate multiple airlines from the country to operate on specific routes, reports Our Corporate Bureau.

Besides, the agreement has also decided to increase the number of point of services from the present two to 14 immediately, and to 42 in the summer of 2006.

"The present agreement has scope to allow private airlines to fly to China, but at present only national carriers will use the increased capacity. Private carriers will have to apply for permission," said Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

The bilateral air services agreement, one of the most liberal ever signed by India, allows carriers to operate the same flight to multiple destinations in the other country.

This means designated airlines from India can combine flights of Beijing and Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou and Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Besides, the Indian carriers can now operate scheduled air services in both directions from any point in India to any six destinations in China via three intermediate stops.

For instance, the move will allow Jet Airways to operate a flights to Shanghai via Singapore or Hong Kong. Similar rights are also given to carriers from China as well.

It was also agreed that not more than 21 weekly frequencies may be operated by any designated airlines of one country to any destination point in the territory of the other country.

The designated airlines of both the countries shall now enjoy the fifth freedom traffic rights on the intermediate and beyond points specified. This will allow an Indian carrier to operate a flight to Europe or to the US via a Chinese airport.

It was also agreed that the designated airlines of both countries may co-terminalise any two points in its own territory.

This bilateral agreement is pursuant to the technical level talks held between the two countries at Beijing on January 23, 2005 and bilateral civil aviation consultations held in New Delhi on 16-17 March 2005.

Charter operations between the two countries will be governed by the charter regulations of the respective countries. Considering the operation needs of airlines to meet market demand combination services and cargo services will be operated with dry leased aircraft.

Both the countries have also agreed on specified code sharing arrangements.