MoCA reviews Open Sky Policy for non-scheduled cargo flights to/from India

As per the AIC issued and approved by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) vide letter no. AV.14027/07/2020-A-MoCA dated 15.09.2020), the open sky policy for foreign cargo carriers promulgated with AIC 18/1992 has been reviewed by the government and some changes have been made with a view to ensure fair and equal opportunity in the air cargo capacity offered by Indian registered airlines and airlines registered elsewhere. The operations of foreign ad hoc and pure non-schedule freighter charter service flights shall be restricted to 6 airports namely Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Foreign carriers may submit application/proposal to the Director General of Civil Aviation for getting clearances for such flights as per procedure specified for the purpose. However, DGCA reserves the right to deny permission for operating cargo flight.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid provisions, the all-cargo flights operated under humanitarian and emergency needs through the UN and other multilateral bodies of which India is a member, and also all-cargo flights hired by or carrying cargo belonging to any Ministry/Department of Government of India or a State/UT Government may be permitted to operate with requisite priority to/from any airport in India where customs/immigration facilities are available.
Operators are required to meet the operational and safety requirements while operating such ad hoc/non-scheduled cargo flights. According to the AIC, Indian operators facing any systematic and non-systematic discriminate tree and restrictive practices and/or regulatory impediments in operating international cargo flights in any of the foreign countries may bring such issues to the knowledge of DGCA for further suitable actions in this regard.