NEW DELHI (TIP): The Tata-Singapore Airlines (SIA) JV has applied for a schedule airline licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to start operations. The move comes exactly three weeks after the aviation ministry gave it the initial no objection certificate (NOC).

“Yes, they (Tata-SIA) have applied for licence and their application will be considered,” said a senior official. Incidentally, the DGCA is already in final stages of granting a licence to the Tata-AirAsia JV for forming a low-cost carrier here.

The Tata-SIA JV envisages starting a Delhi-based full service carrier with an initial investment of $100 million in which the Indian giant will have 51% stake and SIA the rest. FIPB had last October cleared this JV.