Civil Aviation Ministry clears IndiGo and SpiceJet for international operations

Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation reportedly cleared IndiGo and SpiceJet's applications to launch international services, with in-principle approval (Indian Express, 28-Mar-2010). The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will now carry out procedural formalities before final approval is granted. SpiceJet will complete its mandatory five years of domestic operations before launching international operations on 23-May-2010, while IndiGo will complete its five years on 04-Aug-2011. SpiceJet plans to launch international operations on 01-Jun-2010 and is looking at services to Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu. Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines are the only two private Indian carriers operating international services at present.