Quick Digest

Norms eased for Domestic Charters flying overseas

Indian-registered business and charter aircraft flying abroad will not be required to obtain an authority number, also called a YA number, from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Rohit Kapur, President, BAOA, welcomed the move and deeply appreciated Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA’s efforts to remove the pre-condition of obtaining YA number for Indian-registered business and charter aircraft jets. He stated, “this is a step forward in facilitating the ease of doing business for the Business and General Aviation industry. Business Jets are not merely a luxury but in most cases a necessity in terms of gaining quick access and connectivity where time is of essence, and allowing business leaders to be more efficient and productive by affording them the flexibility of travel. Doing away with YA number will ensure that Indian operators can fly overseas without delay. This will help maintain the essence of business aviation.”
 

India rises steeply in ‘Doing Business’ rankings

India leapt 30 notches to mark within the first 100 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2018 Report. Among the 190 countries surveyed, India saw steepest rise in its ranking, which moved from 130th in 2017 to 100th in 2018. It has cumulatively improved 42 places over the past three years.
 

Second Round of Bidding under India’s Regional Connectivity

A total of 141 initial proposals were received for providing air services under the regional connectivity scheme – UDAN. These include 17 proposals for fixed wing and helicopters operations on 502 routes. 20 out of the 141 proposals received have not sought Viability Gap Funding, the fiscal incentive offered by the Government for plying on the given routes.
 

Empire Aviation launches Indian charter and management venture

Dubai’s Empire Aviation Group has launched a charter and management venture in India, in a move that aims to plug a gap within the country’s growing private aviation sector for high-quality business aircraft services, and help grow the region’s fleet of midsize and high-end jets.
 

India’s aviation market to be third largest by ‘27

With its consistent double-digit growth in domestic passenger traffic, India set to be the third largest aviation market in the world by 2027.

In the next ten years then, the India’s aviation market will generate close to 2.6 million direct, indirect and induced jobs, said a report released by Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

—Inputs from BAOA