US To Regulate Flights Under Vande Bharat Mission, Accuses India Of Unfair Practices

The United States has accused India of employing discriminatory and restrictive practices in not allowing American operators to carry out chartered flights on US India routes and vice versa. Citing this reason the Monday order issued by the US Department of Transportation DoT stated that Air India will not be allowed to operate any chartered flights on Indo-US routes from July 22 unless permitted by the DoT.

India had suspended passenger flights since March 21 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Centre decided to bring Indian citizens stranded abroad in various parts of the world under chartered flights on international sectors named Vande Bharat Mission.

Tickets on the India-US sector are sold through the website of the country's national carrier Air India, while seats from the US to India are required to be bought after contacting the Indian embassy in the United States.

The DOT cited the example of Delta Airlines which had sought permission from the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to carry out charter services such as those taken up by Air India. It stated further that Delta had not yet received approval for the requested repatriation charters.

The DoT circular further says that this situation in which Indian airlines are allowed to perform services pursuant to the rights under the US-India air transport agreement while US carriers are not, creates a competitive disadvantage for US carriers compared to their Indian counterparts and creates a competitive imbalance.

The Air India would have to file applications for statements of necessary authorisation at least 30 calendar days before it proposes to conduct any chartered flight, the DoT said. The DoT order stated that effective 30 days from the Monday directive, Air India would not perform any third and or fourth freedom charter flights unless it is permitted to do so by the DoT under specific authority in the form of a statement of authorisation for such charters.