Lok Sabha Question No. 230 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Air Taxi Service
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Manoj Kumar Tiwari

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. : 230 (To be answered on the March 2022) 17th

## AIR TAXI SERVICE

*230.

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

<!-- image -->

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make any policy to bring Air Taxi Service in various cities across the country and if s0, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to extend Air Taxi Service to inter-city and if So, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;
- (6) the manner in Which such service would be different from the existing domestic flights and also would be cost effective;
- (d) whether introduction of such service would affect other modes Of transport in the cities and if s0, the details thereof;
- (0) the measures taken by the Government to encourage Air Taxi Service in the country and extend its reach to common people?
- (e) whether the Government has selected any potential company for the said purpose Or invited proposals from the interested companies in this regard and the details thereof; company-wise; and

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jyotiraditya M, Scindia)

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 230 REGARDING "AIR TAXI SERVICE" TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022

## (a) to (f): There is no such proposal at present:

Aiter repeal 0f 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, airlines decide 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.

Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA), with a view to promote the growth of Indian Aviation sector, released the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016 on 15.06.2016. The aim of the Government is to provide an ecosystem for Maintenance Repairs and Overhaul services (MRO), General Aviation; Aerospace Manufacturing; Skill Development, etc: MoCA promotes growth 0f civil air transport operations with a focus on regional connectivity with categorization of the commercial air transport into three main Operator(SCO) and Non-Scheduled Operator Permit(NSoP). Entry prerequisites in terms of equity and number 0f aircraft as well as certification and operating regulations are graded depending upon the size of aircraft and compiexity of operations with greater flexibility provided to commuter and smailer aircraft: As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) the number of operators holding SOP, SCO & NSoP are 9, 5 & 93 respectively as on 14.03.2022. Carge,

Further, Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21-10-2016 to enhance regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country and  making air travel affordable to the masses. UDAN is a market driven scheme. Interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, submit their proposals at the time %f bidding under UDAN; As on 14.03.2022, 66 unserved funderserved airports including 8 Heliports 2 water aerodromes have been operationalized under UDAN\_UDAN has transformed the way people travel in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities: UDAN is an ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted periodically for covering more destinations/stations and routes under the scheme. While launching the UDAN Scheme in 2016, the Government had targeted the indicative Airfare at Rs. 2500 for a distance of 500 km to 600 km per RCS seat under Regional Connectivity routes (equivalent to one-hour flight) This airfare is subject to indexation as per the formula specified in the UDAN Scheme document:

Further, Ministry of Civil Aviation has released a policy for promotion of helicopter operations across the country: The policy covers various aspects like concessional ground handling charges; parking deposit; landing charges; service charges, credit facility with ATC and training for Air Traffic Control with view to making helicopter Operations viable  The helicopter policy encourages the airport operators/State Governments/UTs to develop heliports: As per the policy; State Governments/UTs are required to set up an Institutional mechanism' to facilitate helicopter operations by obtaining permissions, gpprovals, clearances; etc The Government through this policy, aims to stimulate air traffic and enhance air connectivity through helicopters by facilitating helicopter operations across the country:

Ministry of Civil Aviation has prepared a template framework for different types of air connectivities like international air connectivity, regional air connectivity and remote connectivity utilizing seaplanes/helicopters etc  The Ministry continues to work towards framing suitable policy interventions for new types of air transportation for  providing the last mile connectivitylintercity connectivity.