Aviation thin pushes
to scrap 5/20 rule
Prepares Cabinet Note To Ease Norms To fly
Abroad Despite Opposition By Indian Carriers
Saurabhsinha
INN
New Delhi: UPA II s last days
in office may prove to be the
most controversial ones for
theaviationatinistry.
After grant of additional
flying rights to Dubai on
Wednesday, the aviation mm
istry is now gohigfnll steam
ahead with its plan to scrap
the rule that an Indian earn
er must be five years old and
have a fleet of at least 20
planes to fly abroad. It has
preparedtheCabinetNotefor
what is popularly known as
the 5/20 rule and is pushing
HC notice to Centre on HA plea
NewDelhI:TheDelhihighcourtonFridayissuednoticetothe
Centreonaplea bythe Federation oflndianAirlines(FIA),which
is opposing thego-ahead given toAirAsiato begin itsflight
operations in India.
JusticeManmohanalsoissuednoticetotheForeign
InvestmentpromotionBoard
(FIRe), buttaggedthe petitionof
FlAwithSubramanianswamy'splea,onthesameissueand
whichisbeforeadivisionbenchofthehighcourt.
Ilowever,thedivision benchon February 11 had dismissed
two interim pleasof Swamyseekingastayon grantof further
approvalsto operationalizethe airline deal,saying the Centre
cannotbe"precluded"from"amendingorclarifying"itspolicy.
In its plea, FlAhassoughtquashingoftheapproval granted by
the civilaviation ministrytothe airline, which isa$3p millionjoint
ventureofTataSonsandMalaysia-basedAirAsiaeerhad.
AGENCIES
for it to be taken up in
next
week'sCahinetmeeting-that
to
may be the last such meet of
Which
UPA H before poll dates are
announced and the code of
worktohavemoreflightstolu
their
flights,
domestic
means, an airline
wouldneedabigdomesticnet
a 20% hike, it is trying to get
5/2orevokedtoo.
FIA had in January-end
written to aviation secretary
Ashok Lavasa, saying: "Con-
crative overseas markets eyed
by its competitors.
sidering that all airlines have
ministry's
pre-poll
in the process of fulfilling
The earlier 5/20 decision was
taken by the Cabinet and can
move to scrap 5/20 comes at a
time when all Indian carriers
their obligation
incurred
substantial losses through
be overturned by the Cabinet
(barningGoAir)havefulfilled
only" saidasource. Underthe
this
conduct kicks in.
"Thenotehasbeen sentfor
puttingup before the Cabinet.
The
-
domesticoperations, itwould
GoAir
be unacceptable for the gov-
only require the Direc
too will become eligible in a
matter of months, the move
has been opposed by the Fed
ernment to now consider revising the policy by the removal of the 5/20 rule in
torate General of Civil Avia
eration of Indian Airlines (a
order to benefit the interna-
tion's nodto fly abroad,
The DGCA will give that
forum of desi airlines) and
politicians like Trinamool
tional airlines'joint ventures
which are under consideration and approval."
proposed
new rule, an Indian
carrier-includinga
would
startup
Congress'
Dinesh
fieçl with the airline's air safe
They
the
is
Trivedi last week wrote to
ty record and financial capa
bility If thedemandforflights
amending this rule to favour
the upcoming airlines.
PMManmohan Singh, saying:
to a country is more than the
bilateral or air service agree
But just like the aviation
"It is shocking that... It is my
earnest appeal to you that
ministry overlooked the ob
rightatthefhgendof yourgov-
ment with it, Indian airlines
will get flights in proportion
jections to granting more fly
ing rights toDubaiand gave it
ernment'stenure, lettherenot
permission
after being satis
requirement
say
Trivedi.
ministry
be yetanotherscam."