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Airlines

US Scrutinizes Repatriation Flights to India

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States Department of Transportation has restricted Air India's repatriation flights, citing unfair and discriminatory practices by the Indian government. The move comes after the Indian government was accused of impairing the operating rights of US carriers and denying them permission to conduct India-US passenger charter operations. The US DOT has now ordered Air India to seek specific authorization for each repatriation flight, allowing for close scrutiny on a case-by-case basis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US DOT has restricted Air India's repatriation flights, citing unfair and discriminatory practices by the Indian government.
  • The Indian government has been accused of impairing the operating rights of US carriers and denying them permission to conduct India-US passenger charter operations.
  • The US government has called for restrictions on the third and fourth freedoms for India, which allow basic international service between two countries.
  • The third freedom accords the right to an airline to carry passengers or cargo from its home state to another, while the fourth freedom allows it to bring passengers or cargo from another country to its home state.
  • Air India's repatriation flights have gone beyond the purpose of evacuation, and have involved sales to any member of the general public able to enter the US.
  • Delta Air Lines has requested permission from the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation to perform repatriation charter services similar to those provided by Air India, but has not received approval to date.
  • The Indian government has "thus far failed to remedy the situation", according to the US DOT.
  • The US DOT has ordered Air India to seek specific authorization for each repatriation flight, allowing for close scrutiny on a case-by-case basis.
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India did not immediately comment on the development.
  • The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had issued a statement on June 15, detailing the charter flights and passengers facilitated under the Vande Bharat Mission.

Statistics:

  • The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation granted permission to around 870 chartered flights, transporting around 2 lakh (2,00,000) passengers, both inbound and outbound.
  • Several Airlines helped in the humanitarian mission of taking stranded people to their destinations, including major airlines such as Qatar Airways, KLM Dutch, Kuwait Air, British Airways, FlyDubai, Air France, Jazeera, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Sri Lankan, Biman Bangladesh, Korean Air, Delta, Saudia, Air Nippon, Air New Zealand, Thai Air Asia, United Airlines, Iraqi Airways, Oman Air, Ural Airlines, Lufthansa, Somon Air, Condour, Emirates, Etihad, Aeroflot, and Virgin Atlantic.
  • Air India's repatriation flights have involved sales to any member of the general public able to enter the US, on at least one occasion, as of May 19.
  • The US DOT has ordered Air India to seek specific authorization for each repatriation flight, allowing for close scrutiny on a case-by-case basis.

Sources:

  • The United States Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation
  • The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
  • International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
  • IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd. (2020) distributed by Contify.com

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