‘Red eye’ flights likely to get sops signal

NEW DELHI: The government seems open to addressing some of the pet peeves of private airlines. For long, these carriers have been raising issues such as reduction of airport charges for operating ‘red eye’ flights between 11 pm to 5 am, letting the ground handling functions remain with them even after the new ground handling policy comes into effect from 2009 and more hours of operation on the second runways in Delhi and Mumbai.

Civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla said on Monday that the government would examine these suggestions to facilitate smooth operations of private airlines.

Take for example the issue of ‘red eye’ flights, which is being raised since all private carriers have been asked to operate during these lean hours to ease congestion during the winter. The airlines are now asking for reduction in airport charges and other levies to operate during this period.

Chawla said, “There is no notional revenue loss (if we reduce levies) since no flights have been operating during the red eye period till now.” He was speaking after chairing a two-hour meeting with the CEOs of private airlines here.

On its part, the government has also made a few suggestions to these carriers. Each airline has been asked to appoint an ombudsman so that a credible, self-regulatory mechanism is put in place. This would ensure that passenger complaints are addressed efficiently, since there is no proposal to establish a regulator for this purpose, Chawla said.