The government's new flight plan for flying overseas has not come a day too soon. Changes have been in the works for some time, and given the mess that national carrier Air India finds itself in, the withdrawal of the sole right to operate foreign flights was only to be expected. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has now opened up the flights and seats under existing bilateral Air Service Agreements (ASA) to all scheduled airlines in India. With more private airlines qualifying to fly abroad under the original aviation framework of operating for at least five years on domestic routes, it has become imperative to open more routes for them. Under the existing system, Air India had the sole right to utilise capacity under the ASAs. Due to this restriction — and because of the political and bureaucratic mismanagement which robbed the airline of the ability to use these routes — hardly 20 per cent of the quota available for India under these bilateral aviation agreements was utilised. The capacity was either going abegging, or foreign airlines took permission to operate additional flights. Now, qualified private Indian airlines will find it easier to fly out to more foreign destinations and thereby improve their bottomlines. Of course, they will have to submit operation plans and satisfy the authorities on the availability of aircraft.
Viewed along with the recent permission being granted to airlines to import ATF or aviation fuel, this marks another positive step to liberate Indian airlines from the financial complications they have got into. Though India's skies opened up long ago and private carriers have overtaken Air India and Indian Airlines in many respects, they have not found it easy to secure flying rights to foreign destinations. Air India not only enjoyed exclusive rights, but also the right of first refusal because of the historic monopoly it enjoyed. Given its inability to be competitive domestically, the national carrier saw foreign operations as crucial. Stricken by persistent financial crisis, and the inability to acquire new aircraft, Air India was unable to utilise the available capacity of flights and seats under the bilateral ASAs, which India has hammered out with 109 countries. These aviation pacts may still have a place, but ultimately, the world is moving towards a clear 'Open Skies' regime in which passenger choice will hold the key. So Indian airlines will have to learn to be attractive and competitive, both in fares and facilities. It is up to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to regularly monitor the utilisation of capacity, and also ensure that airlines in India meet the highest global standards.
