Lok Sabha Question No. 3754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: Increase in number of Domestic Air Passengers
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3754

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  23rd March 2023 )

## INCREASE IN NUMBER OF DOMESTIC AIR PASSENGERS

3754.    SHRI ARVIND GANPAT  SAWANT

SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS

PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION      (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a): The details of domestic flight passengers in the country during 2019-20 to 2022-23 is attached as Annexure- I.;

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether there has been a huge increase in the number of domestic flight passengers in the country during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number and details of the airports constructed during the said years, year, location and district-wise including Maharashtra;
- (c)  whether many international airport facilities are  less utilized as private airlines are not allowed to operate services there;
- (d) if so, the reasons for not granting the requisite permission;
- (e) the list of the private airlines which have expressed their willingness to operate services from various international airports in the country;
- (f)  whether the Government proposes to allow the private sector airlines to operate flights from international airports; and
- (g) if not, the reasons therefor?

(b): The details of greenfield airports operationalised in the last three years is  attached  as  Annexure-II.  Under  the  UDAN  (Ude  Desh  ka  Aam  Nagrik), 'Revival  of  unserved  and  underserved  airports'  scheme,  74  unserved  and underserved airports including 9 Heliports & 2 water aerodromes have been operationalised  as  on  28.02.2023.  UDAN  flight  operations  from  six  (6) Airports in the State of Maharashtra namely Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Ozar (Nasik), Nanded, Gondia & Sindhudurg have commenced after the readiness of these airports. (c) & (d): The request of Airlines for operating flight services from Airports is accommodated within the available watch hours and Airport capacity. ; ; With the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation  market  has  been  deregulated.  Consequently,  airlines  are  free  to induct  capacity  with  any  aircraft  type  for  selecting  whatever  markets  and network they wish to operate across the country. Thus, it is up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and their commercial viability, in compliance with the relevant guidelines in this matter.  Thus,  any  airline plans  its flight  schedule  on  a  specific route/cities  based  on  market  demand,  commercial  feasibility  and  their company policy. (e) to (g): At present, there are 30 international airports in the country. The Government  provides  an  enabling  environment  for  growth  of  civil  aviation sector  but  does  not  interfere  in  the  operational  plans  of  the  airlines. Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective countries. Operation of international flights from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of the  airlines  on  the  basis  of  economic  viability  of  the  route  and  other

International flight operations are governed by bilateral Air associated factors.;

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Annexure I

## ANNEXURE IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3754 FOR ANSWER ON 23.03.2023

| Domestic Air Passenger handled at Indian Airports   | Domestic Air Passenger handled at Indian Airports   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                | Passengers(in numbers)                              |
| 2019-20                                             | 141,202,237                                         |
| 2020-21                                             | 53,330,502                                          |
| 2021-22                                             | 84,184,459                                          |
| 2022-23*                                            | 123,126,570                                         |

*-The traffic data for 2022-23 is estimated

ANNEXURE-II

## ANNEXURE IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3754 FOR ANSWER ON 23.03.2023

## LIST OF GREENFIELD AIRPORTS OPERATIONALISED DURING LAST THREE YEARS (2020 ONWARDS)

|   S. No. | State             | Name of Airport                | Date of Operationalization   |
|----------|-------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh    | Oravakallu in Kurnool District | 28.03.2021                   |
|        2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar   | 28.11.2022                   |
|        3 | Goa               | Mopa Airport                   | 05.01.2023                   |
|        4 | Karnataka         | Shivamogga Airport             | 27.02.2023                   |
|        5 | Maharashtra       | Sindhudurg Airport             | 09.10.2021                   |
|        6 | Uttar Pradesh     | Kushinagar                     | 20.10.2021                   |