MoCA to take back unused foreign flying rights


According to a report by Mihir Mishra in The Economic Times, Indian airlines not utilising their quota of foreign flying rights may have to surrender them within the next six months. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India has decided to take back unused overseas flying rights and allot them to airlines with firm plans, especially to West Asia destinations.
The move will also benefit new carriers AirAsia India and Vistara after the government abolishes the eligibility criteria for domestic airlines to fly abroad. With Air India Ltd., Jet Airways (India) Ltd., SpiceJet Ltd., and IndiGo—the only airlines allowed to fly overseas—using only about 35 per cent of their entitlements, the Ministry has, for the first time, also decided to take them back before the mandated three-year period.
Currently, unutilised rights are reviewed after three years and airlines can retain them further by providing an assurance that they will be used.
"Rights to fly to Middle-Eastern countries are being sought by a few carriers like Jet Airways and IndiGo, but we have allocated almost all to carriers that are not utilising it. We will call the airlines now and ask them to return those rights, if they cannot utilise within six months," said a senior Ministry official. India has signed air service agreements with over 100 countries and there are over 900,000 weekly seats available on international routes.
While overall utilisation by Indian carriers is about 26 per cent, foreign carriers use over 40 per cent of bilateral rights. "Airlines will not be allowed to keep rights if they cannot utilise them. Foreign rights will be taken back as we want our carriers to fly international," said the official.

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