Air India won’t oppose key 5/20 rule

In a major move, national carrier Air India has dropped its opposition to removal of the controversial “5/20” rule, the rule that states that domestic scheduled airlines must have at least 20 aircraft in their fleet and five years of domestic flying experience before they are allowed to fly abroad.

In doing so, the national carrier has broken ranks with established domestic scheduled airlines — operating for several years in the country — all of whom want the 5/20 rule to stay and oppose its removal.

On the other hand, relatively-new domestic airlines have that started operating in the country for the past couple of years or so, want the removal of the 5/20 rule so that they can start operating flights abroad.

“Air India has dropped its opposition to the removal of the 5/20 rule. Air India has told the government that we will go with whatever is in the national interest,” top government sources said. “Air India views the 5/20 rule as an external element over which we have no control. The national carrier is focusing on getting its internal systems right, especially with regard to both customer and employee satisfaction,” sources said.

Air India’s fresh stand is very significant, considering that its previous top management had wanted the 5/20 rule to stay and had opposed its removal. But the current management feels that it is unnecessary to oppose its removal.

The new civil aviation draft policy unveiled about two-and-a-half months ago was also undecided about what to do with the 5/20 rule which has left the government in a dilemma. In the draft policy which is under discussion, the government had suggested either its continuance, abolition or replacement by a system of domestic flying credits wherein domestic airlines will need to accumulate 300 DFC before starting flights to Saarc countries or countries located 5,000 km or more from New Delhi.