Unused airports may be converted into SEZs
Posted on: 24/Jun/2016 10:16:10 AM
Mr. Chaubey spoke at an event organised by Assocham. He said, I met someone who said we have so many airports in the country. Is it possible for us to declare some of them as SEZs and allow the airports to be used for two things. One is for leasing companies all over the world to come and park their aircraft here. Leasing companies can park 50-100 aircraft. The companies can then come, take test flights and place orders. The Civil Aviation Ministry would pursue the proposal. An AAI airport lying unused in Hyderabad can be utilised for the purpose. Like ship-breaking, even dismantling an aircraft could be made possible at dormant airports. The moment you allow leasing and aircraft breaking to happen at abandoned airports, MROs, or maintenance, repair and overhaul, will automatically come. The government is exploring ways to reduce the cost of leasing aircraft without which regional connectivity scheme may find difficulty in taking off.
He also said, Foreign-controlled airlines in India may not be allowed to fly on international routes. ICAO, or International Civil Aviation Organisation, rules are to be complied with by all the countries. So, we would like to examine how other countries allowing their domestic airlines to fly abroad where foreign ownership is more than 50 per cent.
