India signs open skies pact with Greece

India has signed an open skies agreement with Greece, the first after the finalisation of the civil aviation policy in June.

 Key facts:

• The open skies agreement will allow airlines from India to operate unlimited number of flights to Greece while Greek carriers have been granted unlimited traffic rights to six Indian metro cities.
• Greece has become the first country to have an open sky agreement with India under the new policy.
• Prior to this, India had entered into an open skies agreement with the US and Britain.

Background:

According to the civil aviation policy, the government can enter into an ‘open sky’ air services agreement on a reciprocal basis with SAARC nations as well as countries with territory located entirely beyond a 5,000 kilometre radius from New Delhi.