Private Indian airlines seek to permission to fly on Air India routes

Over fears foreign airlines will capitalise on Air India’s inability to fly on certain overseas routes, domestic private airlines have sought permission to operate the services in a bid to keep traffic with Indian airlines. Air India, which has the first right of refusal for any route under an Air Service Agreement (ASA) that India signs with another country, is not operating enough international flights but is also not allowing private airlines to begin services on some routes to destinations in Dubai, Singapore and Russia.