| New Delhi, Jan 17 : In an apparent change of stance over the much-debated 5/20 norm, state-run Air India now is of the view that national interest should be the criteria for the Government when it decides on either retaining or scrapping the rule to allow Indian carriers to fly overseas. The airline has submitted its new position on the 5/20 norm to the Civil Aviation Ministry, which has to take a final call on the issue before sending it to the Union Cabinet for approval, sources said. Under the rule popularly called 5/20, a domestic carrier is allowed to fly abroad only after completing five years of domestic operations and having a minimum of 20 aircraft fleet. Air India's latest stand on the issue has come under the new Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani. It had earlier taken the position, along with other airlines like Jet Airways, that status quo should be maintained on the matter. |
