Worried at airlines from the Gulf taking away their traffic, Indian and international carriers, particularly from Europe, are keen to further strengthen cooperation among themselves.

The airlines will look at a variety of options, including enhancing code-share cooperation and entering into alliances with each other. Such a move will allow airlines to share passengers among themselves.

The basic worry has to do with the manner in which some airlines, particularly those from the Gulf, are taking away sixth freedom traffic from India and Europe as per a report in Businessline by Ashwini Phadnis.

In technical parlance, the sixth freedom right allows an airline to fly between two foreign countries while stopping in its own country.

This sixth freedom right has gained considerable importance in the recent past and hence the last few days have seen a flurry of activity among European airlines and Indian officials.

The owner of a major private sector airline and officials of a major European carrier have met with senior Government officials to seek the official view for further enhancing cooperation between European and Indian carriers.

On its part, the Union Government is looking to pitch in to bolster the efforts of these airlines by soon announcing a new hub policy for Indian airports.

The policy will look at making airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai as hubs for airlines similar to the manner in which some countries in the Middle and Far East have made their airports hubs, a move which has paid rich dividends for their airlines. The Government's hub policy is to be announced in the next few days.

(You need to login first to read complete news).
New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News