The Modi Government has agreed to allow US carrier flights to resume passenger services from 23rd July in the India-US market, the US Transportation Department said on Friday, 17th July.
Due to the pandemic, flights from India to other countries were banned including US carrier flights. This had apparently prompted the US transportation department to accuse India of engaging in unfair and discriminatory practices on charter air carriers serving India.
The US transportation Department had earlier issued an order that required Indian flights to take prior authorisation before conducting their charter flights. However, it recentlywithdrew the said order which was to take effect from next week. It also stated that it had approved an Air India application for passenger charter flights between India and US.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Twitter said, that it was looking to"further expand our international civil aviation operations" and arrangements from some flights "with US, UAE, France & Germany are being put in place while similar arrangements are also being worked out with several other countries.
It further added that "Under this arrangement, airlines from the concerned countries will be able to operate flights from & to India along with Indian carriers."
Earlier in June, the Trump administration had stated that it wanted "to restore a level playing field for US airlines" under the US-India Air Transport Agreement. It had also added that Air India had been operating "repatriation" charter flights between India and the United States in both directions since May 7.
