(a) the number of foreign airlines including cargo airlines flying into India on regular
basis along with their frequency, airlines-wise;
(b) the number of airports in India where foreign airlines are operating in/out along
with names of airlines;
(c) whether any security concerns on Jet-Etihad deal has been raised;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to address the airport security
concerns in this regard?
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI AJIT SINGH )
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to the Lok Sabha Starred Question() No. 194 for answer on
22.08.2013 regarding Foreign Airlines
(a) 81 Foreign Airlines (Passangers-72, Cargo-9) are currently operating a total of 1734
scheduled Services/ week (Passanger-1655 s/w + Cargo-79 s/w) to/from India. The current
scheduled passenger/cargo operations of foreign airlines to/from India is given at
Annex-A.
(b) The foreign airlines are currently operating to/from 25 Airports in India. The
current operations of foreign airlines to/from Airports in India are given at Annex-B.
(c) to (e) Yes, Madam. It is alleged that investment by foreign airlines is for sole
purpose of having operational control over Indian carriers and through them get access to
defence airfields being used as domestic airports. Besides, concerns have also been
raised that arbitrarily determined entitlements are fraught with serious national
security issues.
The enhancement of bilateral entitlements between any two countries and FDI in Indian
carriers do not affect in any way the existing security framework in the civil aviation
sector in India. There are multiple checks like clearance through Government approval
route of FDI proposal that ordains compliance with SEBI regulations and FIPB clearance
procedure, provisions under Air Services Agreement, air defence clearance mechanism and
permission from the regulator for scheduled air transport operations. All defence
airports including their ATCs are managed by defence personnel and no aircraft can
land/take off at this airport without prior approval of Defence Authorities. Whenever, a
foreign aircraft enters into the Indian air space, it has to comply with the requirement
of the air defence clearance. In addition, such Indian carriers are required to adhere
to the provisions of Aircraft Act, 1934 and Aircraft Rules, 1937, Civil Aviation
Requirements and Aeronautical Information Circulars issued by Directorate General of
Civil Aviation from time to time