Patel makes presentation on new aviation policy before GoM

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Civil aviation minister Praful Patel today made a presentation on the new policy for air transportation sector before a group of ministers (GoM) headed by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee.

It was the first meeting of GoM which has been set up by prime minister Manmohan Singh to examine the new aviation policy, also called Vision 2020, which is likely to change rules regarding operations on international routes by privately-owned domestic carriers.

''The next meet will be held after the parliament's monsoon session ends next month,'' said Mr Patel.

The ministry of civil aviation has reportedly forwarded a cabinet note to the GoM to relax the existing five-year eligibility requirement contained in regulations for foreign flights and reduce it to three years.

Currently, according to a policy announced in 2005, only those scheduled Indian carriers with a minimum of five years' continuous scheduled operations in the domestic sector and possessing a minimum fleet of 20 aircraft are permitted to operate on international routes.

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