Lok Sabha Question No. 347 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-17
Subject: Higher Air Fares on Non-Trunk Routes
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, SUDHEER GUPTA, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, V. SATHYABAMA, M. B. RAJESH, PR. SENTHILNATHAN

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED the November 2016)

(To be answered on

## HIGHER AIR FARES ON NON-TRUNK ROUTES

347.

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH

SHRI SR VIJAYAKUMAR

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA

DR SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD

SHRI T: RADHAKRISHNAN

SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA

SHRI MB RAJESH

SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the airfares on non-trunk routes are higher and passengers are paying up to over 50% higher fares than the last year even after lower fuel prices and if s0, the reasons therefor;
- (c)\_whether the Government has also any proposal to include Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) in GST provisions to have uniform ATF cost throughout the country and if s0, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any to match the demand and supply o non-trunk routes and if so, the details thereof with the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; steps along
- (d) the percentage of share of ATF in the total operating cost of the airline and the components of taxes of the ATF per kilometer;
- the sectors including Gulf-Kerala sector especially during peak seasons, if $0, the details thereof;
- (g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide quality service and improve the efficiency 0f public and private airlines in the country?
- (f) whether the Union Government has instructed the airline operators to maximum limit for air fare in a particular sector and if s0, the details thereof and if not, the steps taken by the Government to curb the high escalations due to hunting fare system; and keep price

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (a): No such analysis have been carried out by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):
- (b): Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines with & view t0 achieve better regulation 0f air transport services taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country. It is; however; up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. As such, airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of route dispersal guidelines issued by Government:
- (c): An Act further to amend the Constitution of India has been passed by the Parliament As per Clause 12(5) the Goods and Services Tax Council shall recommend the date on which the goods and services tax be levied on petroleum crude, high diesel;, motor spirit (commodity known as petrol); natural gas and aviation turbine fuel speed
- (d): No such analysis has been carried out by DGCA:
- (e): No complaint substantiating the violation of published tariff by scheduled domestic airlines has been received in recent past:
- (f): Air fares are not regulated by the Government With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the provision of air fare approval was dispensed with by the Government.
- (g): Following Civil Aviation Requirements/ Air Transport Circulars have been issue by DGCA specifying requirements to protect the interest of the passengers travelling by air. Civl Aviation Requirement; Section 3- Air Transport; Series M,
- 2
- 1 Part-i: Carriage by Air of Persons with Disability and/ or Persons with Reduced Mobility.
- 3 Part-iii: Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding cancellation of flights and delays in flights:

Air Transport Circulars

- 4 Part-iv: Facilitation in case of diversion:
1. ATC 2 of 2015 Unbundle of services and fees by scheduled airlines:
3. ATC 2 of 2010 Publishing 0f Tariff Rule 135 0f Aircraft Rules, 1937 reg: In order to improve the efficiency of scheduled domestic airlines, DGCA has issued following circulars
2. ATC 01 of 2014 Facilities/Courtesies to esteemed traveling\_public at airports
1. ATC 01 of 2013 Procedure to be followed to mitigate flight delays
2. ATC 04 of 2009 Airport level monitoring of On-Time Performance(OTP)