Lok Sabha Question No. 2665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-02
Subject: Growth in Aviation Sector
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM, K. MARAGATHAM, B.V. NAYAK, OM BIRLA, S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2665 (To be answered on the August 2018) 2nd

## GROWTH IN AVIATION SECTOR

2665.

SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM

SHRIMATI K MARAGATHAM

SHRI B.V. NAIK

SHRI OM BIRLA

SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- a) whether India is the fastest growing aviation market in the world and air traffic and domestic air passengers have increased significantly during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
2. (c) whether the Government acknowledges that current airport infrastructure and facilities are needed to be upgraded as per future projected growth in civil aviation sector; if $0, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to tackle such problems;
3. (b) the names of new domestic and international sectors identified for promotion of air services during the next three years;
4. (d) whether some of the selected domestic airports had refused the domestic air carriers under UDAN scheme to operate at airports and hence such air carriers opted out of UDAN and if so, the details thereof with the reasons therefor; along
5. (e) whether the Government proposes to expand scope of UDAN scheme to other smaller airports in the country from Rajasthan (especially Kota) in order to encourage domestic connectivity of the region with rest of the country and if SO, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (0 whether any study has been conducted to assess the reasons for sluggish air reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (a)Yes; Madam: The country's domestic aviation market is one of the fastest growing in the world and has registered high double digit growth for more than four years. According to IATA report; for 2017, indian domestic passenger market; in terms of Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK), has posted the fastest full year growth for the third year in a row: The growth rate witnessed during the last three years were 21.5%, 21.5% and 18.3% respectively during 2015-16, 2016-17 & 2017-18.
- (6)No; Madam. Airlines plan their domestic flight schedule on a specific routel cities based On market demand, commercial feasibility and their company policy on which Government has no control. The operations on any international route is governed by bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the country of the foreign airline concerned: Any foreign airline can operate from a point in India if it is designated as points of call in the bilateral ASA while the Indian carriers are free to operate services from any point in India to any international destinations available under bilateral agreements subject to the availability of resources and commercial viability of the route.
- (c)Yes, Madam: The current airport infrastructure and facilities are needed to be upgraded: As a part of the NABH Nirman airport capacity expansion programme; the Government of India has proposed to increase the capacity of airports by 4 to 5 times to handle a billion passenger per year over the next 10 to 15 years To meet the demand, Airports Authority of India (AAD); a PSU under Ministry of Civil Aviation, has embarked upon a CAPEX plan of Rs. 20,000/- crore in next four years for development of various airports in the country In addition, many new airports are being developed through the PPP model as well: trips
- (d)No, Madam:
- (e)The revival of airports airstrips under RCS-UDAN is demand-driven; depending upon firm commitment from airline operators as well as State Government for providing various concessions as airports well be developed without insisting on financial viability: Further, airline operators access the feasibility for operations on a particular route and bids under the scheme from time to time.