AFTER SITTING ON THE application by Tata Industries and Singapore Airlines (SIA) for a joint-venture airline since the beginning of the year, the Indian Government has finally rejected the proposal, along with 18 others aspiring to start private airlines in India.
The Tata/SIA venture, which had planned to start operations in December, was not singled out, as the civil-aviation ministry providing only a general catalogue of reasons for the rejections, including non-compliance on aircraft types, inadequate equipment and insufficient security programmes.
Also cited in the cases of joint-venture proposals was the absence of clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.
The ministry has said that it will not be accepting new applications for the time being, in line with Government policy to prioritise airport and airspace infrastructure development.
Source: Flight International
