The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in Parliament last month assailed the government for giving away foreign flying rights to carriers other than Air India, and recommended freezing or rolling them back to provide “a more than level playing field” to the national carrier as per a report by Smita Aggarwal in Indian Express. 

The fact however, is that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has steadfastly refused to negotiate any new or additional flying rights with other countries in the last three years. The government has been sitting on requests by private domestic airlines for additional seats on overseas routes, in the process allowing foreign carriers to ramp up their market share. This, despite the fact that Air India has been unable to utilise its foreign flying rights for want of aircraft, said a top AI official. 

The ministry says it will consider the domestic carriers’ proposals “soon”. “We have been allowing airlines to fly on routes where they had sought permission. All the pending proposals will be processed soon,” said Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi