As a retaliation to India for not allowing foreign airlines to conduct ground handling in the country, the US has threatened to prohibit Indian airlines from implementing similar operations in that country, reported
The Economic Times, quoting sources.
The US has sought a detailed filing of all ground operations from Indian carriers by July 1, the report said, adding that both the countries were negotiating the issue as the US had communicated this issue to New Delhi around 10 days ago.
The reason for the US to take such a move comes as 'pressure tactics' to intimidate India after a series of failed trade talks, the daily said.
The issue first came to light after New Delhi barred all foreign airlines from carrying out ground handling on their own at Indian airports.
If the ban is implemented by the US, the operations of national carrier Air India will be affected as it is the only Indian airline that operates direct flights to Washington, New York, Chicago and San Francisco.
An Air India ground handling official told the paper that at the US airports, the airline outsources ground handling to companies that are mandated to carry out such operations.
