The Tata-SIA combine has approached the Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking a No Objection Certificate (NoC) to start operations here.

Confirming the development, a senior Ministry official said the new airline has sent the list of its directors to the Ministry seeking clearance for them from the Home Ministry.

The new start-up, in which Singapore Airlines (SIA) holds a 49 per cent stake with Tata Sons holding the remaining, is yet to announce a firm date for starting operations here.

No date yet

Speaking to the media after a meeting with the Civil Aviation Minister in October this year, the airline Chairman Prasad Menon said the airline planned to take to the skies by the summer 2014.

After receiving the NoC from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the new airline will have to approach the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation to seek permission to begin services.

The joint venture was announced in October this year and has already been given clearance by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, the nodal agency responsible for facilitating foreign direct investment flow into the country. Senior officials of the airline, including Tata Group Chairman Emeritus, Ratan Tata, SIA chief, Goh Choon Phong and Menon have met various Cabinet Ministers, including Commerce and Civil Aviation, to give a push to the proposed airline project.

The airline will be a full service carrier, which will only be allowed to operate flights within the country, as the current rules require that an airline with a fleet of 20 aircraft should have flown in the domestic skies for five years before it is allowed to operate international flights.

ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in

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