Lok Sabha Question No. 2828 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-05
Subject: Growth of Indian Aviation Sector
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Prataprao  Jadhav, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shrirang Appa Barne, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Subrata Pathak, Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2828 (To be answered on the August 2021) Sth

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

## GROWTH OF INDIAN AVIATION SECTOR

2828.

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE

SHRI RAVI KISHAN

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state: -

- (a) the growth rate of the Indian Aviation sector during each of the last five years;
- (c) whether the aviation industry has been worst affected globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic and if s0, the details in this regard;
- (b) the estimated number of direct employment in the aviation and aeronautical manufacturing sector in the country;
- (d) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) whether Airport Authority of India and Air India have been maintaining ali Covid-19 protocols so far and if s0, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K SINGH (RETD))

- (a) The growth of Indian aviation sector in terms 0f aircraft movements, passenger handled and freight, for both domestic and international sectors, during the last five years is attached herewith as Annexure-l.
- (b) The estimated number of directly employed personnel in the aviation and aeronautical sector is in excess of 2 lakh as on 31 Mar 2021.
- (c) Yes Sir. The aviation industry, both globally and in India has been adversely affected by COVID-19 pandemic due to the significant drop in air travel demand, stoppage of many domestic and international flights and Covid-related movement restrictions at several domestic and international locations.

The details of the decline in air traffic in India are as follows:

- ii. The number of domestic passengers reduced from approximately 124 lakhs in February 2020 to approximately 78 lacs in February 2021, registering a decline of approximately 37%. i.e.,
- i. The number of domestic passengers has reduced from approximately 128 lakhs in January 2020 to approximately 77 lakhs in January 2021, registering a decline of approximately 40%.
3. (d) The measures taken by the Government to improve the civil aviation sector 0f the country include:
- ii. Route rationalization done in Indian airspace in coordination with Indian consumption:
5. Benefits under Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 3.0 extended to civil aviation sector.
6. iii; GST on Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) in aviation has been reduced from 18% to 5% with full Input Tax Credit from 1 April 2020.
- iv. Operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) flights allowed without any capacity restrictions:
- vi. Private investments is being facilitated in existing and new airports through the PPP route.
- viii. Significant tax incentives and other benefits Offered to aviation leasing companies located in GIFT City
- vii. Indian carriers are being encouraged to increase their share in international air cargo traffic.
- ix. Flying Training Organisations have been offered land at five AAI airports, namely Belagavi, Jalgaon; Kalaburgi, Khajuraho and Lilabari with zero airport royaity charges and rationalised land rentals:
12. AAI has come up with business-friendly MRO policy with zero airport royalty charges and rationalised land rentals at eight AAI airports.

## (e) Yes; Sir.

- i.Guidelines have been issued for front line staff to maintain Covid-19 protocol in passenger handling at Airports

Air India has been maintaining Covid-l9 protocols as advised by various authorities like Ministry of Heaith and Family Welfare (MoHFW)' Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA); Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) etc. and the State Governments. The key steps taken by Air India include the following;

ii Information regarding protocol for passengers for use of protective gear have been circulated.

- iv Emphasis was given on contact-less passenger handling processes like 100% online check-in; submission of self declaration forms and self baggage drop etc.
- iii General instructions and information for passenger process flow at airport under Covid-19 scenario have been issued for strict adherence:

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been maintaining Covid -19 protocols at its airports. The steps taken by AAI include the following: key

- ii: Contact-less movement of passengers
- i Thermal screening and RT-PCR testing of passengers
- iii. Hygiene and sanitization
- V Display of Do's and Dont's' and disposal of bio-hazard waste as per guidelines of MoHFW
- iv. Foliowing social distancing norms

## Growth Rate of Indian Aviation Sector

|         | AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (in 1000 nos)   | AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (in 1000 nos)   | AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (in 1000 nos)   | AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (in 1000 nos)   | AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (in 1000 nos)   | AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (in 1000 nos)   |
|---------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| YEAR    | INTL                               | INTL %growth over previous year    | DOM                                | DOM % growth over previous year    | TOTAL                              | TOTAL % growth over previous year  |
| 2016-17 | 400.42                             | 6.8%                               | 1648.66                            | 16.1 %                             | 2049.08                            | 14.1%                              |
| 2017-18 | 437.93                             | 9.4%                               | 1886.62                            | 14.4%                              | 2324.55                            | 13.4%                              |
| 2018-19 | 452.64                             | 3.4%                               | 2153.32                            | 14.1 %                             | 2605.96                            | 12.1%                              |
| 2019-20 | 431.85                             | -4.6%                              | 2155.20                            | 0.1%                               | 2587.05                            | -0.7%                              |
| 2020-21 | 134.82                             | -68.8%                             | 1061.92                            | ~50.7%                             | 1196.74                            | 553.7%                             |

|         | PASSENGERS (in million)   | PASSENGERS (in million)         | PASSENGERS (in million)   | PASSENGERS (in million)         | PASSENGERS (in million)   | PASSENGERS (in million)           |
|---------|---------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| YEAR    | INTL                      | INTL %growth over previous year | DOM                       | DOM % growth over previous year | TOTAL                     | TOTAL % growth over previous year |
| 2016-17 | 59.29                     | 8.5%                            | 205.68                    | 215%                            | 264.97                    | 18.3%                             |
|         | 65.47                     |                                 | 243.28                    | 18.3%                           | 308.75                    | 16.5%                             |
| 2018-19 | 69.48                     | 6.1%                            | 275.22                    | 13.1 %                          | 344.70                    | 11.6%                             |
| 2019-20 | 66.54                     | -4.2%                           | 274.51                    | -0.3%                           |                           | -1.1%                             |
| 2020-21 | 10.13                     | -84.8%                          |                           |                                 | 115.38                    | -66.2%                            |

|         | FREIGHT (in 1000 MT)   | FREIGHT (in 1000 MT)            | FREIGHT (in 1000 MT)   | FREIGHT (in 1000 MT)            | FREIGHT (in 1000 MT)   | FREIGHT (in 1000 MT)              |
|---------|------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| YEAR    | INTL                   | INTL %growth over previous year | DOM                    | DOM % growth over previous year | TOTAL                  | TOTAL % growth over previous year |
| 2016-17 | 1855.06                | 11.9%                           | 1123.18                | 7.3%                            | 2978.24                | 10.1%                             |
| 2017-18 | 2143.97                | 15.6%                           | 1213.06                | 8.0%                            | 3357.03                | 12.7%                             |
| 2018-19 | 2200.19                | 2.6%                            | 1361.71                | 12.3%                           | 3561.90                | 6.1%                              |
| 2019-20 | 2003.12                | -9.0%                           | 1325.51                | -2.7%                           | 3328.63                | ~6.5%                             |
| 2020-21 | 1521.42                | -24.0%                          | 952.49                 | -28.1%                          | 2473.91                | -25.7%                            |