The President, Mrs Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, will inaugurate the 4th International Civil Aviation Negotiation Conference (ICAN) on Monday.

But the fact that India will negotiate bilateral air services rights with 35 countries during the conference has been kept a closely guarded secret by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Thanks perhaps to the critical remarks made by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) about past Bilateral Air Services Agreements, the Ministry has kept very quiet about the forthcoming negotiations.

The CAG in its report on the performance of the Civil Aviation Sector, and in particular Air India, had said, “While bilateral air traffic rights on international routes between India and other countries were decided on the basis of reciprocity, at present, the actual utilisation of available rights on international sectors was highly imbalanced.

While utilisation by foreign airlines was around 65 per cent, that of our airlines was only around 30 per cent; as a result, foreign airlines derived disproportionate economic advantage out of the traffic rights.”

Next week's is meeting will be attended by over 300 delegates from 65 countries.

“The conference has been primarily organised for aviation regulators from different countries to conduct bilateral air services negotiations or consultations in a central meeting place,” a Government statement said.

India is considered to be ninth biggest civil aviation market in the world. At present, it has Bilateral Air Services Agreement with 108 countries.

While 72 foreign airlines are operating to/from India, six Indian carriers – Air India, Jet Airways, JetLite, Kingfisher, SpiceJet and Indigo – are operating to 25 countries.

In India, there has been a significant enhancement in national and international connectivity making it the ninth biggest civil aviation market in the world.

India has Bilateral Air Services Agreement with 108 countries and presently 72 foreign airlines are operating to/from various destinations. Three Indian carriers are operating to 35 destinations in 25 countries.

Bilateral Air Services Agreement fixes number of seats/flights for regular flight between countries.

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