Lok Sabha Question No. 5038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-25
Subject: Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Aviation Sector
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 5038 (To be answered on the March 2021) 25th

## EFFECT OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON AVIATION SECTOR

5038.

SHRI DM KATHIR ANAND

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIA TION

be pleased to state:-

- (2) whether the aviation sector has been badly affected by COVID-19 pandemic and if the details thereof including the steps taken to revive the sector; and SO,
- (6) whether the Gevernment proposes to start new airports across the country and if the details thereof? SO,

## ANSWER

Minister 0f State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

- (a) The aviation sector in India has been affected due to restrictions on domestic and international passenger movement in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Based on information received from stakeholders, the details of the impact are as follows:

ii, The internationai traffic reduced from approximately 5.21 crore during April-December in 2019 to approximately 55.9 lakhs during April-December 2020.

i The domestic traffic reduced from approximately 10.8 crore during AprilDecember 2019 to approximately 3 crore during April-December 2020.

iii, The financial loss of Indian carriers during April-December 2020 is approximately INR 16,000 cr

iv The financial loss %f Indian airports during April-December 2020 is cr.

The measures undertaken to strengthen the civil aviation sector, include interalia:

- i.Domestic air services have been restarted 0n 25 2020 in a calibrated manner. Initially, operations at level of 33% of the summer 2020 schedule were permitted; It has been increased progressively to 45% on 26 June 2020 and currently it is at 80% since 03 Dec 2020. May
- ii.Operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN (Ude Desh Ka
- consumption.
- Aam Nagrik) flights allowed without the above-mentioned restrictions; iii.As 2021, exclusive air-links or Air Bubbles have been established with 27 countries. These are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting international passenger Services While regular international flights flights are being operated on many sectors under Vande Bharat Mission: iv Route rationalization in the Indian airspace in coordination with Indian Air Force for efficient airspace management; shorter routes and lower fuel
- vPromotion of private investments in existing and new airports through the PPP route.
- vii. Enabled re-export of leased aircraft in or partly knocked-down condition for value realisation of serviceable parts. fully
- vi. Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate reduced to 5% for domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhau] (MRO) services:
- viii. Encouraged Indian carriers to increase their share in international air cargo traffic.
- xWith view to optimally utilise the infrastructure at AAI airports and enhance the number of licensed pilots in the\_country, Flying Training Organisations have been %ffered land at five AAI airports, namely Belagav, Jalgaon; Kalaburgi, Khajuraho and Lilabari with rationalised concession fee and zero royalty.
- ix: Adequate care taken to ensure that cargo terminals at airports were operational with due safety, whenever required:
- (b) Sir: Govt: of India has accorded 'In-Principle' approval to 21 Greenfield airports across the country, including Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai; Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong Karnataka; Datia (Gwalior) iu Madhya Fradesh; Kushinagar and Noida in Uttar Pradesh; Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikai in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Orvakal in Andhra Pradesh and Hollongi, Maharashtra; Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala and Kalaburagi in Karnataka have been operationalized. Yes,

Further, under RCS-UDAN, as on 10 March 2021, 325 routes have commenced operations, connecting 56 unserved/underserved airports including 2 water aerodromes and 5 heliports.