CEO of the Wadia Group-owned budget carrier Go Airlines (India) Ltd, which operates services under the brand GoAir, Giorgio De Roni, today sought reversal of the Government norm of allowing only domestic carriers with a minimum fleet of 20 aircraft to fly overseas.
“India allows foreign airlines with one or two aircraft to operate international flights to India but does not allow Indian carriers to fly international,” he told a press conference here.
Allowing Indian carriers to fly overseas (by waiving this norm) would see “foreign currency coming to India, foreign tourists coming to India and additional employment,” De Roni said.
Besides a fleet of 20 aircraft, Indian carriers must complete five years of operations to be eligible to fly overseas.
GoAir, started in 2005, is constrained by the 20-aircraft-must-have clause for starting international flights as it has only 13 aircraft now. De Roni said the company planned to reach the 20-aircraft mark by July 2014.
He said the company has written to Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh to waive this stipulation, and hoped it would be agreed to.
De Roni, however, said he is yet to receive any feedback from the Government on the issue.