India, Nepal boost air services

India and Nepal have agreed to further liberalise air services between the countries and within the SAARC groupings. The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) raising weekly capacity of flights between the two to 30,000 seats from the existing 6,000 seats per week.

Nepal not only accepted the SAARC offer of India, after discussions, it has been agreed by both sides to further liberalise the entitlements contained in the SAARC offer, a press release issued by India's civil aviation ministry said.

The designated airlines of each side will be entitled to operate 30,000 seats per week to and from the points specified in "Route I of Section I and Section II of the Route Schedule" with any type of aircraft. 

Within their overall capacity entitlements, the designated airlines of Nepal will be entitled to operate up to 10,000 seats per week to and from Mumbai and Bangalore each and not exceeding 15,000 seats per week to and from Delhi.  This restriction will, however, cease to apply with effect from 1 January 2011.

The designated airlines of each side will be entitled to operate any number of services with any type of aircraft to and from points specified in "Route II of Section I and Section II of the Route Schedule."

The designated airlines of each side may exercise unlimited intermediate or beyond fifth freedom traffic rights to/from any points within the SAARC region.