Aviation Industry Should Avail Opportunities Than Discuss Rules: Tata Sons

New Delhi: With the Civil Aviation Ministry expected to finalise the much-awaited aviation policy next month, which will also decide the fate of existing norm for international operations by domestic airline, Tata Sons on Tuesday said that industry should avail opportunities than discuss rules.

"I would say let us all move on. Market has opportunity, competition should move on and we will also live on. It is not that we are winning everywhere. It is a challenging market. We have some very powerful competitors let everyone give their best," Mukund Rajan, director, Vistara Board, told reporters here.

Mr Rajan was talking to reporters after the opening of the Tata-SIA run airline's exclusive lounge for business class passengers and Club Vistara customers at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Tuesday.

"Let us not get in to this rule or that rule and someone was obstructed here or there," Mr Rajan said in an obvious reference to the fight between the old airlines and startup carriers over the 5/20 rule, under which an Indian carrier should have minimum 5 years of domestic flying and at least 20 aircraft for going overseas.

While the old airlines - Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir - favour continuation of the rule, the two Tata Sons-invested carriers - Vistara and AirAsia India - want the norm to be done away with.

"These are not good tactics particularly for those who have succeeded to competition," Mr Rajan said, adding, "I am sure that the market will reward those who are truly committed to the customer interest."

The war of words over the 5/20 norm broke out after Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata termed the moves (for continuation of 5/20 norm) as "reminiscent of the monopolistic pressures by entities with vested interests who fear competition".

"It is sad to see the incumbent airlines lobbying for protection and preferential treatment for themselves against the new airlines which have been formed in full compliance with prevailing government policy and providing air transport to Indian citizens...," Mr Tata had said.

Ajay Singh, chairman of SpiceJet, who belongs to the faction that wants the 5/20 rule to stay, was quick to respond to this.

In a reply, Mr Singh said he did not see anything wrong in new carriers being asked to "serve India" before being allowed to fly overseas.