New Delhi, Aug. 10 -- The Centre on Monday clarified, there is no government policy barring major airport operators from holding substantial equity in or operating scheduled airlines.

Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said this in Rajya Sabha today in response to an unstarred question by CPI(M) MP John Brittas on cross-ownership between airports and airlines.

The Minister clarified, "There is no such Government Policy restricting operators of major airports from holding substantial equity in or operating scheduled airlines."

Meanwhile, he stressed, some existing agreements for airports developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model restrict scheduled airlines and their group companies or associate...