Date:14/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021451340700.htm

Back Relax norms for international flights: MPs

New Delhi, Feb. 13 The demand for relaxing norms so that more domestic airlines can fly abroad was made at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting held here on Wednesday.

Addressing the meeting, a Member of Parliament felt that there was a need to relax the norms as the number of passengers being carried by airlines from India was dwindling.

“The Government should consider allowing any domestic airline to operate to nearby international destinations. For the US and UK, the Government could stipulate that an airline complete two years of domestic operations to become eligible,” the MP said.

Members also called for an appraisal paper and progress report on the status of the merger of Air India and Indian.

The Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, said during 2007 there had been a growth of more than 32.5 per cent in the domestic air passenger segment compared to the previous year.