The Director General of Civil Aviation, DGCA has cleared the decks for Tata-SIA Airlines to provide scheduled air transport services in the country. In a statement issued yesterday, Director General Civil Aviation Prabhata Kumar said, there is no reason for not considering the application of Tata-SIA Airlines for grant of scheduled Air Operator Permit, AOP. While overruling all the objections raised by the Federation of Indian Airlines over the application, DGCA said the objections raised were not sustainable.

The civil aviation regulator said it will consider the application of Tata SIA Airlines Ltd for issuance of AOP subject to the compliance of various requirements in terms of various rules and circulars.

The Tata-SIA Airline, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, had submitted its application for AOP in April. In its application before the DGCA, the airline said it would initially engage in domestic and eventually launch international air services, apart from cargo handling, renting and leasing (except financial leasing) of aircraft and other services incidental to air transport services.