Flying to countries like China and Turkey may soon become less expensive for Indian travellers as flight options from Chinese carriers, and Turkish Airlines may soon increase. Countries such as China and Turkey have been pressing for a treaty for its airlines to fly to India as they have exhausted their current flying rights. The permission for this was not being given as Indian carriers have not been using a significant part of their bilateral with regard to flying to these countries.
However, a decision has now been taken that the bilaterals will be increased by linking the hike in terms of a growth in air traffic that will be experienced between India and that country. “For instance, if air traffic was growing at average 7% per annum in past three years between India and a country, then bilateral can be hiked at double of that growth rate — for example 14% — in such cases,” said a senior aviation ministry official as quoted by the Times of India.
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In the Congress-led UPA regime, grant of flying rights to several countries, especially in the Gulf, was given in a comparatively easier way. The decision by the previous government has been questioned by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The Modi government reportedly is only increasing the bilateral if Indian flights have been able to successfully utilise 80% of their flying rights to a country.
The informal rule of sanctions and unequal utilisation of flying rights was preventing India from increasing bilateral of countries like China and Turkey. While several airlines fly to India from China, only Air India flies to China. There is no flight that goes to Turkey in the present currently.
Low-cost flights by Chinese carriers like China Southern, China Eastern and Air China have become extremely popular after for passengers travelling between India and places such as the west coast of America.
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