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Jet Airways seeks slots to go global
By siliconindia
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Monday, 14 June 2004, 19:30 IST |
8 Comments
NEW DELHI: Jet Airways on Monday said it has sought slots from several international airport authorities, including that in London and Singapore, for regular flights ahead of the new aviation policy.
"We want to find out as to what opportunities are available," Jet's executive director Saroj Datta told PTI from Mumbai on phone, while admitting the company was not designated to fly on these routes.
On whether the company had approached the Government for permission since it was a domestic airline, Datta said: "No. We are not designated yet. But we don't have to seek separate permission as it is likely to be a part of the new civil aviation policy."
Although the proposal by private airlines, including Jet and Air Sahara, to get permission to fly to Islamabad was recently blocked by Pakistan Government, the fate of the new initiative would depend on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government when it announces its aviation policy.
While the previous NDA Government had taken some initiatives to open the Indian skies to foreign carriers, including private domestic players, new Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel appears cautious on making any fresh announcement after the controversy created over his statement on FDI in management of airports.
According to Patel, the new Civil Aviation policy would be ready before the end of the year.
However, in its communication to James Coles, head of coordination, ACL, London, and Lawrence Goh of Singapore Airlines for slots, Jet Airways said it "has not yet been designated by the Indian authorities to operate scheduled airservices to/from the UK/Singapore.
"However, we are hopeful there will shortly be changes to India's Civil Aviation Policy and that Jet Airways will be authorised to operate such services. Once the required authorisations are received from the Government of India, we will forward the same for your kind perusal," the company said in the communications, believed to have been sent even before the formation of the new UPA Government.
In identical letters to Malaysian Airlines and Thai Airways, the company has given specific slots that it desired to operate regular flights from the winter of this year, subject to necessary approvals.
The company is understood to have drawn a detailed three-year frequency plan for long haul operators including to Europe, North America, ASEAN, Gulf and African countries.