New Delhi, Dec 08: Government today said south east Asian nations will be allowed to operate daily services to four metros and an unlimited number of flights to 18 tourist destinations in the country, but this cannot be construed as an `open sky policy`. "Government has not announced an open sky policy for Asean nations. The offer made by India to member countries of Asean at the Asean-India summit in Bali recently allows the facility of daily services to the four metros and unlimited number of flights to 18 tourist destinations in India," Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy informed Lok Sabha today.
He said the requests received from Asean countries within the terms of this offer would be considered without further bilateral talks as and when formalised and implemented.
"This offer will lead to better connectivity between India and Asean nations and strengthen tourism, business, trade and commerce," Rudy said.
He, however, said the revenue implications of this offer for Air India and Indian Airlines cannot be estimated at this stage.
Referring to the committee to review the route dispersal guidelines that force carriers to operate a stipulated number of flights on uneconomical routes, Rudy said "the committee is likely to submit its report by the end of December 2003."
To a query on air space management, he said "flexible use of airspace is only to permit civil aircraft to use the airspace exclusively reserved for military purposes for optimum utilisation of Indian airspace but not expansion of the existing airspace."
Bureau Report