Centre grounds Magic Air’s flight plans

Magic Air, a start-up airline proposed to be launched from November by a person of Indian origin, has already run into turbulent weather, wi...

Magic Air, a start-up airline proposed to be launched from November by a person of Indian origin, has already run into turbulent weather, with the government on Thursday saying it cannot permit PIOs to operate an airline.

The existing civil aviation requirements stipulate that a scheduled or non-scheduled air transport operators permit could be only granted to Indian citizens,’’ Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Under the rules, a permit could also be provided to a company or a body whose effective control was vested with Indian nationals, Patel said, adding: ‘‘Hence, persons of Indian origin (PIO), who are not Indian citizens, cannot be permitted to operate Air transport services in terms of the present regulatory.’’

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The new airline was proposed to be launched from November by a PIO, Neera Radia.

However, Patel said the government was examining amendment of aircraft rules in consultation with all concerned.

Algerian-French artist’s work vandalised at Kochi art gallery over ‘obscenity’ allegations

India1 hr ago

Algerian-French artist Hanan Benammar's linocut prints were vandalised by two artists at an international exhibition in Kochi. The exhibition, curated by Anushka Rajendran and Damian Christinger, was organised by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and opened on October 18.

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