India concludes three aviation treaties
Monday November 29, 9:19 am Eastern Time
NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The Indian government said on Monday it has agreed to fresh aviation treaties with Qatar, the United States and Lithuania.
``We have agreed to give Qatar an additional 584 seats per week over the existing 1,000. This would be three more flights every week,' Civil Aviation Secretary Ravindra Gupta told Reuters.
Aviation treaties govern the number of passenger seats on flights as well as points of call for airlines between two countries.
``They (Qatar) have also given us fifth freedom rights from Doha to other Gulf destinations,' Gupta said.
Fifth freedom rights usually enable an airline to pick up passengers, cargo and mail in one country, while flying to another destination.
India has also concluded the framework for a new aviation treaty with Lithuania, Gupta said.
``We have agreed to 450 seats every week between the two countries. This would be two flights per week.'
The points of call for designated airlines of the two countries have been fixed as New Delhi and Vilnius.
A government statement said the scope of an aviation bilateral beween India and United States has also been expanded.
``It was agreed that Trans World Airlines (AMEX:TWA - news) and (Royal) Jordanian Airlines will be permitted to have a code share arrangement for operations to or from India,' it said.
Designated airlines from India and the United States will also be permitted circular flights between the two countries, enabling them to fly shorter distances on return flights.
Gupta said the United States had also had discussions with India for an ``Open Skies' agreement between the two countries, but no agreement has been concluded.
An ``Open Skies' agreement, if it materialises, would broadly remove all restrictions on flight capacity as well as the number of airlines between the two countries. |
