Date:22/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/22/stories/2008032259731300.htm

National

Indian carriers can fly to U.S. via Shanghai

Special Correspondent

India, China reach agreement

Jet keen on developing Shanghai as its Asia-Pacific hub
Designated airlines will have fifth freedom traffic rights

NEW DELHI: Designated airlines of India and China will be entitled to operate to any three points beyond the two countries with not more than two points in one region.

However, the intermediate points and beyond points, and the exercise of rights to traffic to and from these points shall be agreed upon by aeronautical authorities of the two countries.

At bilateral talks which concluded here on Thursday, it was agreed that the designated airlines of India might operate beyond China to San Francisco with full fifth freedom rights. The Chinese side would be allowed to nominate a point beyond India with full fifth freedom traffic rights at its discretion at a later date.

It will mean that the private carrier Jet Airways, which has already launched flights to the U.S. with Brussels as its European hub, will be able to operate flights to San Francisco through Shanghai. Jet has been keen on developing Shanghai as its Asia-Pacific hub and for launching flights to the U.S. West Coast.

Fifth freedom rights mean the right to carry passengers from one’s country to another country and from there to a third country.

A designated Indian carrier can fly to an agreed point in China and from there to San Francisco.

The Indian delegation specified the U.S. and Canada as one region, Australia and New Zealand as the second region and Asia as the third region for the three points for the Indian carriers to operate the services agreed upon. For China, Africa is one region, the Middle East is the second and Europe the third for the three points for operations of its carriers.

Both sides have agreed that their designated airlines will be entitled to exercise fifth freedom traffic rights on not more than 14 frequencies to all beyond points put together.

While the Indian delegation at the talks was headed by R.K. Singh, Joint Secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Chinese were led by Li Jiang Min, Director-General, Department of International Affairs and Cooperations.