"Fifth freedom" will be taken up later

SINGAPORE: India and Singapore have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance air connectivity. The unresolved issue of "fifth freedom" will be taken up later.

Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad said, "We have got very good fifth freedom rights out of China." India now had "a fairly liberal tie-up" with Thailand, too, in this domain.

The "fifth freedom" is a right that enables the airlines of any two countries to pick up passengers in each other's territories for destinations in other nations. India is keen to operate passenger flights to Australia and New Zealand through Singapore.

Under the new MoU, signed here this week, Singapore's air carriers "will have rights to fly to 18 identified tourist destinations in India without any restrictions." India obtained reciprocal rights. The new accord would not affect the existing civil aviation links between the two. This was similar to the one India signed with Thailand earlier this year, Mr. Prasad noted.

Another salient accord now "formalised" was that India and Singapore could operate "unlimited" cargo flights to each other's territory and also to destinations beyond.

On air links with China, Mr. Prasad said, "We have increased the entitlements for carriers of both sides." China was now evincing interest in more destinations in India. The smaller Chinese airlines, too, were looking at the Indian market. "Beijing had notified us recently of their intention to increase flights," he said.

Under the bilateral framework of "fifth freedoms," China had now "shown interest in going towards Africa" through India. However, India might not operate passenger flights to the U.S. through China, as agreed upon.

Mr. Prasad said India's new civil aviation policy might be ready for the Cabinet's consideration in about a month's time. On the modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports, he said,
"The West Bengal Government has reservations about the private sector being involved in this." As for Chennai, the process could "start within this year."

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