<p>The Central government on Monday allowed airlines to operate the spacious Airbus A-380 from four metropolitan cities, including Delhi and Bangalore, lifting a five-year-old ban imposed fearing that foreign airlines would take away passenger-load from Indian carriers.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Besides Delhi and Bangalore, the government has also allowed the operation of these aircraft from Hyderabad and Mumbai. <br /><br />All these airports would have to get certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and make adequate preparation.<br /><br />No Indian airline has booked for the double-decker wide-body long-haul jets, which can carry around 850 passengers. <br /><br />The decision will bring cheer to carriers like Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa, which are among the 10 operators who already have the A-380 in their stable. Nine of the 10 international airlines that fly the A-380s have scheduled flights into India.<br /><br />“The decision (by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh) has been taken after due consultations with the DGCA, Air India and Airports Authority of India,” said an official statement. <br /><br />The ministry had last month cleared the proposal to allow A-380s in India pending final approval from Singh.<br /><br />The government had imposed a ban on A-380s in 2008, and foreign airlines have been lobbying for its removal.<br /></p>
<p>The Central government on Monday allowed airlines to operate the spacious Airbus A-380 from four metropolitan cities, including Delhi and Bangalore, lifting a five-year-old ban imposed fearing that foreign airlines would take away passenger-load from Indian carriers.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Besides Delhi and Bangalore, the government has also allowed the operation of these aircraft from Hyderabad and Mumbai. <br /><br />All these airports would have to get certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and make adequate preparation.<br /><br />No Indian airline has booked for the double-decker wide-body long-haul jets, which can carry around 850 passengers. <br /><br />The decision will bring cheer to carriers like Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa, which are among the 10 operators who already have the A-380 in their stable. Nine of the 10 international airlines that fly the A-380s have scheduled flights into India.<br /><br />“The decision (by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh) has been taken after due consultations with the DGCA, Air India and Airports Authority of India,” said an official statement. <br /><br />The ministry had last month cleared the proposal to allow A-380s in India pending final approval from Singh.<br /><br />The government had imposed a ban on A-380s in 2008, and foreign airlines have been lobbying for its removal.<br /></p>
