The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to stop all aircraft imports into the country with immediate effect. On August 14, the ministry issued an order saying that no new aircraft imports will take place till a further order was issued from the ministry.
New aircraft are generally being imported by various scheduled and non-scheduled airlines every year. These airlines have an average of importing about 30 aircraft a year. This figure also includes big corporates and rich individuals, who import aircraft for private use.
Till now, the import of aircraft were being handled by an empowered committee. The civil aviation minister Ajit Singh has decided that import of new air planes will only take place after a new expert committee is formed and new policy guidelines are put in place.
In the past, customs officials and other government departments have seized private aircraft of important business leaders, like Mukesh Ambani and others, for certain violations and duty evasion. Observers feel that the important aircraft manufacturers in the world, like Boeing, Airbus, Eurocopter, Bell Helicopter, Gulfstream and others, will be affected because of this sudden ban on import of aircraft. Also many customers have made advance payments for their aircraft and are at the final stage of receiving the deliveries.
New aircraft are generally being imported by various scheduled and non-scheduled airlines every year. These airlines have an average of importing about 30 aircraft a year. This figure also includes big corporates and rich individuals, who import aircraft for private use.
Till now, the import of aircraft were being handled by an empowered committee. The civil aviation minister Ajit Singh has decided that import of new air planes will only take place after a new expert committee is formed and new policy guidelines are put in place.
In the past, customs officials and other government departments have seized private aircraft of important business leaders, like Mukesh Ambani and others, for certain violations and duty evasion. Observers feel that the important aircraft manufacturers in the world, like Boeing, Airbus, Eurocopter, Bell Helicopter, Gulfstream and others, will be affected because of this sudden ban on import of aircraft. Also many customers have made advance payments for their aircraft and are at the final stage of receiving the deliveries.