India-EU deepen aviation ties as AAI & DGCA sign pacts with European agencies – Times of India
NEW DELHI: India and the European Union have increased their cooperation in the aviation field. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Vikram Dev Dutt on Thursday signed a letter of intent with EU Aviation Safety and Airports Authority of India inked a declaration of intent with Eurocontrol for closer cooperation on Day One of the India-EU Aviation Summit here.
“The EU and India are strategic partners and the EU-India Connectivity Partnership adopted in 2020 stresses our mutual interest in fostering connectivity dialogue and projects. India is among the world’s fastest-growing large economies and an important player in global economic governance. The EU is India’s third largest trading partner, accounting for €88 billion worth of trade in goods and more than €36.5 billion for trade in services,” EU said in a statement.
The EU-India aviation market is also of strategic importance, with around 23 lakh passengers travelling on direct routes between the EU and India every year. Yet around 60% of all passengers travelling between the EU and India connect via hub airports in other countries, “showing the significant potential for growing the direct market”.
Currently, India has open skies arrangements with only six of the 27 EU member states,” it added.
Addressing the summit virtually, Union aviation minister J M Scindia said India and the EU have shared strong historical relations which continue to grow today on the back of robust physical, digital and people-to-people connectivity, aided by the aviation industry. “(India) has taken several steps to promote aircraft manufacturing in the country. We have reformed the regulatory environment to make it as conducive as possible for MROs – reduced GST rates on MRO services from 18% to 5% and allowed 100% FDI into the sector. New MRO guidelines have also been rolled out for rationalisation of the charges leviable on MRO Service Providers for ease of doing business. I would urge industry players from EU to tap these opportunities, and become a part of the fastest growing aviation market in the world.”
Scindia invited EU players to partner India in developing adaptive technologies and support the objective of tackling emissions from the aviation Industry. “We are encouraging airports to use 100% green energy by 2024, and achieve net zero by 2030. As many as 25 AAI airports are already using 100% green energy. Our target is to make another 121 airports carbon neutral by 2025. We have also mandated the use of renewable energy as part of the bid documents for upcoming airports; we are also working towards encouraging the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Indian Airline operators have already conducted demonstration flights using bio-fuel blended with ATF,” Scindia added.
Adina Vălean, European Union commissioner for transport, said: “From commercial opportunities, to aviation safety and security, sustainability, air traffic management, or consumer protection, our shared experiences, as well as our shared objectives, make us natural partners. We already have a successful history of partnership and cooperation in many areas. I truly hope aviation will become one of our most successful partnerships.”
Sweden’s minister for infrastructure and housing, Andreas Carlson, represented the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Close to 300 other representatives from the European and Indian aviation sectors, including EASA, SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking and Eurocontrol, Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, airlines, airports and other stakeholders are attending the event.
Europe has created the world’s largest integrated aviation market – a market that serves 27 States and a population of more than 450 million, that transported over one billion passengers in 2019 – half of those domestically, within the EU, and the other half internationally.
“The EU and India are strategic partners and the EU-India Connectivity Partnership adopted in 2020 stresses our mutual interest in fostering connectivity dialogue and projects. India is among the world’s fastest-growing large economies and an important player in global economic governance. The EU is India’s third largest trading partner, accounting for €88 billion worth of trade in goods and more than €36.5 billion for trade in services,” EU said in a statement.
The EU-India aviation market is also of strategic importance, with around 23 lakh passengers travelling on direct routes between the EU and India every year. Yet around 60% of all passengers travelling between the EU and India connect via hub airports in other countries, “showing the significant potential for growing the direct market”.
Currently, India has open skies arrangements with only six of the 27 EU member states,” it added.
Addressing the summit virtually, Union aviation minister J M Scindia said India and the EU have shared strong historical relations which continue to grow today on the back of robust physical, digital and people-to-people connectivity, aided by the aviation industry. “(India) has taken several steps to promote aircraft manufacturing in the country. We have reformed the regulatory environment to make it as conducive as possible for MROs – reduced GST rates on MRO services from 18% to 5% and allowed 100% FDI into the sector. New MRO guidelines have also been rolled out for rationalisation of the charges leviable on MRO Service Providers for ease of doing business. I would urge industry players from EU to tap these opportunities, and become a part of the fastest growing aviation market in the world.”
Scindia invited EU players to partner India in developing adaptive technologies and support the objective of tackling emissions from the aviation Industry. “We are encouraging airports to use 100% green energy by 2024, and achieve net zero by 2030. As many as 25 AAI airports are already using 100% green energy. Our target is to make another 121 airports carbon neutral by 2025. We have also mandated the use of renewable energy as part of the bid documents for upcoming airports; we are also working towards encouraging the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Indian Airline operators have already conducted demonstration flights using bio-fuel blended with ATF,” Scindia added.
Adina Vălean, European Union commissioner for transport, said: “From commercial opportunities, to aviation safety and security, sustainability, air traffic management, or consumer protection, our shared experiences, as well as our shared objectives, make us natural partners. We already have a successful history of partnership and cooperation in many areas. I truly hope aviation will become one of our most successful partnerships.”
Sweden’s minister for infrastructure and housing, Andreas Carlson, represented the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Close to 300 other representatives from the European and Indian aviation sectors, including EASA, SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking and Eurocontrol, Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, airlines, airports and other stakeholders are attending the event.
Europe has created the world’s largest integrated aviation market – a market that serves 27 States and a population of more than 450 million, that transported over one billion passengers in 2019 – half of those domestically, within the EU, and the other half internationally.
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