Magic Air runs into turbulent weather even before takeoff
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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
14th August 2005:Magic Air, a start-up airline, has run into turbulent weather with
the government stating that it cannot permit a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) to
operate an airline in the country.
The airline was proposed Nira Radia, a PIO, and was slated to be launched from
November. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said
that the existing civil aviation requirements stipulate that a scheduled or
non-scheduled air transport operators permit could only be granted to Indian
citizens.
Under the rules, a permit could also be provided to a company or a body whose
effective control was vested with Indian nationals, the letter
said.Hence, PIOs, who are not Indian citizens, cannot be permitted to operate air
transport services in terms of the present regulation, it said.The ministry was also
examining amending aviation rules to permit PIOs own and operate airlines in the
country, the minister said, adding, this would be conducted in consultation with all
concerned.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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