Draft Civil Aviation Policy

On October 30, the government released the new draft aviation policy. The stakeholders can give their inputs by November 21. After this, the civil aviation ministry will send the final policy draft in December to the cabinet for approval.

Major thrust of the policy is affordability on short distance routes, liberalization of code-sharing, removing controls on helicopters flying below 5,000 feet in unrestricted areas, allowing second airport within 150 kms of an existing airport subject to payment of compensation to AAI by the state government, several concessions in taxes to encourage development of MRO sector.