Private airlines to join in repatriation efforts

NEW DELHI: The government will soon allow domestic private airlines to operate flights to bring back Indians stuck on foreign soil, a respite to carriers grounded since late March, officials said.The decision was taken after aviation secretary Pradeep Sigh Kharola on Tuesday convened a meeting with airlines to discuss the economic hit and ways to help the industry overcome the crisis.“Fares and flights private carriers will operate are still under discussion and will be announced soon,” a senior government official told ET.Currently, national carrier Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express are carrying out such flights on behalf of the government. Private domestic carriers can provide evacuation flights to short-haul international destinations because they don’t have long-haul aircraft in their fleet, while Air India can continue to evacuate Indians from the US and Europe, officials said.Airlines will have to take permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) before every such flight “since these flights are unscheduled”, another senior official said.75837970Such repatriation flights, where passengers are charged for travel, will provide revenues to airlines that are under deep financial stress. Airline executives have welcomed the move. “This is a positive and welcome step as it will allow repatriation of larger number of citizens, who are on waitlists,” said an airline executive requesting not to be identified. “Private airlines offered services at the very beginning and will be glad to do their part,” the person said. “This also allows private airlines to get aircraft, crew and operational staff actively working again in preparation for resumption of scheduled flights. Finally, it creates a revenue opportunity after many weeks of close to zero revenue. It will make flights more affordable (for those awaiting repatriation).” The permission for repatriation flights has come after the government did not provide any support to the ailing airline industry in the Rs 20 lakh-crore bailout package announced last week.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/3bMfVef