India’s Civil Aviation Ministry may alter the 5/20 rule that makes it mandatory for Indian airlines to fly domestically for at least five years and own a fleet of 20 before being allowed to serve international routes (see news).
The changes may do away with the “five year” imposition and revise the “20” to reserving 20 per cent of fleet or 20 aircraft, whichever is higher, for domestic routes.
If the 5/20 rule is relaxed, Airbus and Boeing can expect to receive orders from Indian airlines for long-haul airplanes. India is already a big market for the aircraft manufacturing giants.
India’s budget airline IndiGo received the first of its 430 A320neo on March 11 and national carrier Air India is due to receive 14 A320neos in the coming months.
The aircraft manufacturers are suggesting their products for long-haul flights from India.
Airbus suggests the economically viable A330neo for long-haul flights from India and Boeing recommends the B787-900 that already boasts of serving some of the world’s longest routes such as Toronto-Delhi and San Franciso-Singapore with fuel-efficiency.
Neha Gupta
