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| Thursday, 23 October 2003 |
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Indian private airlines to fly to Sri Lanka NEW DELHI, Wednesday (AFP) India's private domestic airlines on Wednesday hailed a government decision to allow them to fly to neighbouring Sri Lanka, with one saying it could start operations on any South Asian route within three months. Uttam Kumar Bose, chief of private domestic carrier Air Sahara, told reporters his airline was increasing its fleet size to be in a position to fly to neighbouring South Asian countries. "We have always been very keen to expand our operations beyond Indian shores. We can be ready to fly to overseas destinations within three months of getting government clearance," said Bose. India Tuesday offered "unlimited access" for Sri Lankan civilian aircraft to 18 Indian tourist spots in addition to daily flights from Colombo to the Indian cities of Bombay, Bangalore, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Madras and New Delhi. New Delhi also said in a joint statement it would encourage Indian private carriers to fly to Sri Lanka. "We have been waiting for the green light to operate flights on international routes. It took decades for the government of India to allow private firms in the domestic aviation sector," said an official in Jet Airways who did not want to be identified. "Now we have finally got the go-ahead to fly to Sri Lanka. It is a small, but significant step. It is a beginning," he added. India's private domestic carriers Air Sahara and Jet Airways first submitted a proposal asking the government to let them fly on international routes in 2001. A powerful civil aviation panel, called the Naresh Chandra Committee, set up to look into reforming the aviation sector, recommended in July this year that ailing private airlines should be given opportunities to fly on short international routes. It also said private operators should enjoy the same benefits as India's state-run domestic carrier Indian Airlines. Indian Airlines has the largest domestic network in India with a fleet of over 50 planes and it already operates flights to countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and to the Middle East. |
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