'Indo-Pak to allow air operation by each other'

New Delhi, May 16: The Government today said India and Pakistan have revived air service operation between them and agreed to open their airspace for overflights for the airlines of both countries.

Stating this in a written reply, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Civil Aviation Praful Patel told the Rajya Sabha Pakistan has agreed for Indian (formerly Indian Airlines) operation in that country.

As per the agreement reached, the designated airlines of both sides are now entitled to operate five, three and four services/week on the Karachi-Mumbai, Karachi-Delhi and Lahore-Delhi routes respectively. The agreement helped both PIA and Indian Airlines to start operations between the two countries, the Minister said.

To another question, he said out of 101 bilateral air services agreements signed with foreign countries, 55 bilateral agreements were operational. "The reason for a number of bilateral pacts lying unused is because of lack of point to point traffic demand between India and such countries," he said.

Regarding steps the government proposed to take to make use of all the bilateral pacts, Mr Patel said the bilateral traffic rights had been offered to all eligible Indian scheduled carriers for operation of flights. However, the actual operation of any airline, including Indian carriers was always guided by its commercial judgement.

UNI