Allow outbound chartered flights: Industry

Bombay Chambers of Commerce 038; Industry BCCI has said that India can save Rs 16,000 crore each year by allowing outbound chartered flights and permitting domestic airlines to fly on international routes. The chamber has also suggested a three-point formula to reduce domestic air fares by over 50 per cent.

8220;We are losing over Rs 160 billion Rs 16,000 crore every year just because we are trying to save Indian Airlines IA and Air-India A-I,8221; BCCI vice-president and Thomas Cook India CEO and managing director Ashwini Kakkar said at a press conference in the Capital. He was referring to a BCCI study done in assistance with KPMG and presented earlier in the day to the Naresh Chandra Committee constituted by the civil aviation ministry for drafting a policy on the sector.

IATA fare is Rs 48,000 for an outbound seat, the charter fee per seat will come to Rs 23,000. Some foreign airlines are charging as high as Rs 52,000 per seat, Kakkar said.