However, such relaxation proposed in the policy - Vision 2020 - would be done on a "need-based" manner.
If the new guidelines are approved by the cabinet, the civil aviation ministry would be able to take decisions to allow private domestic carriers to operate on international routes as and when required and on whichever route the demand exists, official sources said.
But the long-awaited policy is unlikely to recommend any changes in the norm to allow Foreign Direct Investment in the sector, which stands at 49 per cent, they said.
The cabinet has already approved 100 per cent FDI in the operation of sea-planes, helicopters and greenfield airports.
Sources said the ministry's proposal to allow domestic carriers fly abroad would not be a blanket opening of the international routings.
Existing norms mandate airlines to complete five years of operations on domestic routes and have a fleet of 20 planes to be eligible for launching international flights. Airlines like Kingfisher are demanding relaxation of this norm.
Sources said there would be no specific proposal to reduce the five-year norm in the new norms.
Industry sources, however, point out that allowing more carriers on international routes could further clog the already strained aviation infrastructure in the country.
Recently, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said the five-year and 20-aircraft norm would be reviewed keeping in mind the capability of Indian carriers to handle major international routes and take on global competition.
"It will not be a blanket opening of all international sectors for private carriers, but would depend on the need of the country, the routes that exist and capability of the
Indian carriers to handle the specific routes," he had said.
On opening the Gulf routes to private airlines, he had said the new policy framework would be "need-based" and Indian carriers, with standard operational experience and fleet, could be allowed to operate in select routes.
At present, only Indian, Air India and their subsidiaries are allowed to operate to the profitable Gulf sector.
Patel had then pointed out that there were several international sectors where only the two merged Indian carriers - Air India and Jet Airways - operate currently.
There were other sectors where the foreign airlines operated without any reciprocity from the Indian side. These issues are likely to be taken care of under the proposed 'Vision 2020'.
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