Edition 55
In 2016, the Narendra Modi led government came up with a National Civil Aviation Policy. I am proud to have contributed to it and also being recognised for this contribution at various forums. However, eight years after it came into effect – looking back at the policy makes me wonder if it is being followed? With the same government all along, it is easier to change or modify the policy or follow it.
I have always wondered about two things, the much contentious bilateral rights and the Route Dispersal Guidelines. On the bilateral policy, used more as a tool of foreign relations than pure aviation by all countries across the world, the policy states that the Bilateral Air Services Agreement comes up for negotiation when both sides reach the 80% utilisation mark. Over the last eight years, we have seen countries getting additional rights selectively and agreements like those to Dubai where the utilisation is 100% not getting any increase.
The Route Dispersal Guidelines, too, were up for renewal every five years. The first five years ended in 2022, which was in the middle of the pandemic and had floor and ceiling caps for fares along with capacity deployment restrictions, which are now behind us. The five year renewal has never happened and the routes under Route Dispersal Guidelines have remained the same.
As the third term starts with a new set of ministers, will the policy which came into effect in the first term be looked at? A policy in place but not adhering to it does not send a great signal to the market when the government’s focus has been on ease of governance. What’s next? The next session of parliament may have that as a glimpse.
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