Tuesday, March 7 2006 15:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India and Thailand have signed an MOU enabling operation of more flights by their airlines between the two countries, Rajya Sabha was informed today (Mar 07 2006).

As per the MOU signed on February 9-10, 2006, the capacity entitlement for the designated airlines of both the sides has been increased to 18,671 seats per week in a phased manner upto the summer of 2009, Minister of state for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said in a written reply.

Besides, he said the designated airlines of both the sides have unlimited access from 18 tourist gateways in India. After this agreement, the Indian and Thailand scheduled carriers can deploy more additional services on India-Thailand route, he said.

The designated airlines of the two sides have now unlimited access from Lucknow and Varanasi in U.P.

To another question, Patel said as per the air services arrangements between India and Myanmar, the designated airlines of both the sides are entitled to operate scheduled air services between Delhi and Myanmar.

However, he made it clear that actual operation by any airline is always based on its commercial judgement keeping in view the traffic potential.

Patel said during the last three years, Hyderabad has been granted point of call status for the designated airlines of Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, France and Thailand apart from UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Hyderabad is also available as a point of call to the designated airlines of USA, UK. Chinese carriers can operate from any six points in India, including Hyderabad, he said.