India mulls lifting ban on A380s

[NEW DELHI] India is considering lifting a ban on Airbus SAS 380s from flying into the country, a move that may help Emirates and Deutsche Lufthansa AG to start services with the double-decker plane to the Asian nation.

"We've been looking at it and we've talked to the airlines and asked for comments from ground-handling and immigration," Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said yesterday. "We are waiting for their comments."

The government banned commercial services with the world's biggest passenger aircraft on concerns that travellers will desert state-run Air India Ltd and other local airlines struggling with the region's most expensive fuel tariffs and a price war. Current rules prevent overseas airlines from flying aircraft bigger than the Boeing Co 747 into the country.