Civil aviation ministry concerned over domestic impact of AirAsia, Vistara's global operations


The civil aviation ministry has flagged its concerns over the impact on domestic air connectivity if Vistara and AirAsia India are allowed to fly international post abolition of the five-year, 20 aircraft rule. 

The upcoming aviation policy is expected to abolish the rule, which requires Indian carriers to fly five years locally and have a fleet of 20 aircraft to be eligible to fly international. The concerns were raised in a meeting of airlines called by the ministry on Wednesday. The country's leading carriers, such as Indigo and Jet Airways, didn't attend the meeting. 


The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), the industry body that represents these carriers, on Tuesday wrote to Aviation Secretary RN Choubey, seeking a postponement of the meeting as the top executives of its member airlines had prior commitments or were away on vacation. 

The ministry didn't accede to it. The meeting was attended by representatives of AirAsia, Vistara and Air India, none of which is part of the FIA. Choubey asked Vistara and AirAsia India representatives about the possible impact on their domestic operations if they are allowed to fly international, sources in the know said. 

"The representatives said international operations are not as simple as it is made out to be. It is really competitive and the airline representatives explained they can never operate by focusing only on international (operations)," said a source in the know, who didn't want to be identified. The ministry sought views of airline executives on all policy aspects. 

"Vistara and AirAsia India have reiterated the 5/20 norm should be abolished completely," said the source. 

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