E-Paper
A380 won’t be coming to India any time soon
India has once again refused consent to allow the A380 — the world’s-largest commercial aircraft — to fly into the country. Singapore had recently sought permission for its airlines to operate the aircraft to India.
India has once again refused consent to allow the A380 — the world’s-largest commercial aircraft — to fly into the country. Singapore had recently sought permission for its airlines to operate the aircraft to India.
The A380, manufactured by Airbus — the Toulouse-based aviation giant — can seat as many as 853 passengers. In the past, requests have been received from the UAE and Germany to operate the super jumbo in India. Delhi and Hyderabad airports are capable of handling the aircraft.
India and Singapore signed a new memorandum of understanding on bilateral air services arrangement last month. “The designated airlines of Singapore can operate with any aircraft type except A380,” the aviation ministry said.
“India has consistently refused permission to allow airlines to operate the A380 as our domestic carriers wouldn’t be able to compete with foreign airlines operating the aircraft and would lose traffic,” an aviation ministry official said. “We are basically protecting our airlines bleeding heavily from competition.”
No Indian airline has ordered an A380 except the grounded Kingfisher Airlines, which too has postponed deliveries.
