U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Update to June 22 Indian Air Carrier Order
This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation negotiated an arrangement with the Government of India (GoI) to allow U.S. carriers to resume passenger services in the U.S.-India market. The issuance of a DOT order on June 22nd imposing a prior approval requirement on Air India for its charter flights led to productive talks with the GoI. The Department worked closely with the U.S. Department of State and Ambassador Juster in these talks with the GoI. As a result of these discussions, India has begun to approve U.S. carrier applications, and U.S. carrier passenger services to India are set to resume on July 23rd. In light of these positive developments, the Department has approved an Air India application for passenger charter flights between the United States and India, and the Department is rescinding the charter prior approval requirement in its June 22nd Order at this time, until further order of the Department.