India is still seeking implementation of an open skies policy with Bangladesh in the civil aviation sector, although Dhaka earlier expressed its reservations to New Delhi to go for such a policy.
An open skies agreement refers to a deal to allow each other's airlines to have an unlimited number of flights and seats between the two countries.
"India has been requesting us for long for signing an agreement to implement the open skies policy," a senior official, involved in bilateral discussions with New Delhi on civil aviation, told the FE.
"But we have expressed our inability to do so, as our local aviation industry is not yet ready for that."
"Implementing the open skies policy will bring an uneven competition for us, because our aviation industry is much weaker than India," he added.
According to India's National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, the country can enter into an agreement for open skies on a mutual basis with the SAARC countries beyond a radius of 5,000 kilometres from New Delhi.
India first offered Bangladesh to go for open skies policy in 2016 after revising its civil aviation policy.
Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla raised the issue while speaking at the launching ceremony of IndiGo flights of India on Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka route in the capital on Tuesday.
"Let me also mention that the two countries will need to keep pace with the rapid growth and changes in the bilateral relations in the area of civil aviation," he said.
"In this context, it would be useful to have civil aviation consultations between the two countries to discuss various issues including capacity entitlement updating the bilateral agreement on air services and exploring possibility of implementing an open skies policy," Mr. Shringla added.
It is learnt that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism here has been planning to revise the air service agreement (ASA) instead of opting for the open skies deal.
In the latest meeting between the civil aviation ministry officials of the two countries, Bangladesh agreed to go for a temporary operation permit, which allows both the countries permission to operate 120 flights weekly.
Local airlines are also against implementing open skies deal with India, saying it would trigger uneven competition.
"They are stronger than us. So if we allow the policy, it would be suicidal for us. What we want is an increase in the number of frequencies," said Kamrul Islam, spokesperson of the US-Bangla Airlines.
At present, around 100 flights are operating weekly between India and Bangladesh, connecting various Indian cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai with Dhaka and Chattogram.
With the arrival of IndiGo, four Airlines from India and four airlines from Bangladesh are now operating on Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka route.
Currently, around 200,000 people are travelling between the two countries by air.
