Tuesday, December 21 2004 15:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Governments of United States, UK, China, Australia, Singapore and UAE have designated multiple Indian carriers to operate to these countries, but no final decision has been taken to allow private airlines to fly to these destinations, the Rajya Sabha was informed today (Dec 21, 2004).

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said during Question Hour that the Government has presently permitted private airlines to operate to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) countries against unutilised entitlements of the Indian side subject to the provision of designation of multiple airlines in the respective Air Services Agreement.

"As regards allowing private airlines to operate to other countries, no final decision has been taken in this regard," he said.

The Minister said that operation of international air services by Air India and Indian Airlines was a matter of commercial judgement of the concerned airlines depending upon the fleet availability and traffic demand.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has recently reviewed fog preparedness with all concerned agencies and have directed the airlines to step up training programmes of pilots on anti-fog CAT-II and CAT-III operations, Patel said in reply to another question.

He said that the Airports Authority of India has plans to upgrade the Instrument Landing System at Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow airports.