Lok Sabha Question No. 3110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Expansion of International Airline Service
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3110

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  21st December 2023 )

EXPANSION OF INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE SERVICE

3110.    SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that India is expected to overtake China and United States as the third-largest air passenger market in the world in the next ten years or by 2030 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is capable of achieving that target and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of number of air passengers that India caters to during the last five years, country and yearwise;
- (d) whether it is also a fact that the Union Government proposes to expand its international airline service to new nations; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e):  There  is  no  mechanism to project the passenger market of India in comparison to the other countries.

The year-wise details of the Scheduled Domestic and International passengers for the last five years are mentioned in Annexure -A, and the Country-wise details of the Scheduled International passengers for the last five years is given in Annexure B. Indian Airlines are free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operate within the ambit of bilateral agreements. The airlines provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. The start 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, availability of aircraft, etc.

******

## Annexure-A

| Scheduled Domestic and International Passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and foreign Operators on Scheduled Services 2019-20 to 2023-24(P)-upto September 2023         | Scheduled Domestic and International Passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and foreign Operators on Scheduled Services 2019-20 to 2023-24(P)-upto September 2023         | Scheduled Domestic and International Passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and foreign Operators on Scheduled Services 2019-20 to 2023-24(P)-upto September 2023         | Scheduled Domestic and International Passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and foreign Operators on Scheduled Services 2019-20 to 2023-24(P)-upto September 2023         | Scheduled Domestic and International Passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and foreign Operators on Scheduled Services 2019-20 to 2023-24(P)-upto September 2023         | Scheduled Domestic and International Passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and foreign Operators on Scheduled Services 2019-20 to 2023-24(P)-upto September 2023         |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Financial Year                                                                                                                                                           | Indian Operators                                                                                                                                                         | Indian Operators                                                                                                                                                         | Indian Operators                                                                                                                                                         | Foreign Operators                                                                                                                                                        | Total Interantional passenger (Indian +foreign)                                                                                                                          |
| Financial Year                                                                                                                                                           | Domestic passengers                                                                                                                                                      | International passenger                                                                                                                                                  | Total Passengers                                                                                                                                                         | International passenger                                                                                                                                                  | Total Interantional passenger (Indian +foreign)                                                                                                                          |
| Financial Year                                                                                                                                                           | Passengers carried (In numbers)                                                                                                                                          | Passengers carried (In numbers)                                                                                                                                          | Passengers carried (In numbers)                                                                                                                                          | Passengers carried (In numbers)                                                                                                                                          | Passengers carried (In numbers)                                                                                                                                          |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                                                                        | 4                                                                                                                                                                        | 5                                                                                                                                                                        | 6                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 2019-20                                                                                                                                                                  | 141,202,237                                                                                                                                                              | 22,692,001                                                                                                                                                               | 163,894,238                                                                                                                                                              | 38,050,270                                                                                                                                                               | 60,742,271                                                                                                                                                               |
| 2020- 21*                                                                                                                                                                | 53,330,502                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                          | 53,330,502                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                          | -                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 2021- 22**                                                                                                                                                               | 84,184,459                                                                                                                                                               | 114,371                                                                                                                                                                  | 84,298,830                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                          | 114,371                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 2022-23                                                                                                                                                                  | 136,028,656                                                                                                                                                              | 23,858,816                                                                                                                                                               | 159,887,472                                                                                                                                                              | 30,758,340                                                                                                                                                               | 54,617,156                                                                                                                                                               |
| 2023- 24(P) upto Sep 23                                                                                                                                                  | 75,358,445                                                                                                                                                               | 13,920,178                                                                                                                                                               | 89,278,623                                                                                                                                                               | 17,508,367                                                                                                                                                               | 31,428,545                                                                                                                                                               |
| P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 |
| * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    |
| ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 |

| Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             | Annexure B                                                                                                                             |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years | International passenger carried by Scheduled Indian and Foreign Operator to and fro India on scheduled Services during last five years |
| FY                                                                                                                                     | 2019-20                                                                                                                                | 2019-20                                                                                                                                | 2020- 21*                                                                                                                              | 2021- 22**                                                                                                                             | 2022-23                                                                                                                                | 2022-23                                                                                                                                | 2023-24 (till September                                                                                                                | 2023-24 (till September                                                                                                                |
| Country                                                                                                                                | Domestic Operator                                                                                                                      | Foreign Operator                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                        | Domestic Operator                                                                                                                      | Domestic Operator                                                                                                                      | Foreign Operator                                                                                                                       | Domestic Operator                                                                                                                      | Foreign Operator                                                                                                                       |
| AFGHANISTAN                                                                                                                            | 52,501                                                                                                                                 | 78,272                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | -                                                                                                                                      | 260                                                                                                                                    | -                                                                                                                                      | 6                                                                                                                                      |
| AUSTRALIA                                                                                                                              | 177,846                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | 315,815                                                                                                                                | 93,482                                                                                                                                 | 159,129                                                                                                                                | 34,067                                                                                                                                 |
| AUSTRIA                                                                                                                                | 75,142                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | 7,707                                                                                                                                  | -                                                                                                                                      | 29,986                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                      |
| AZERBAIJAN                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | -                                                                                                                                      | 7,798                                                                                                                                  | 9,624                                                                                                                                  | 20,369                                                                                                                                 |
| BAHRAIN                                                                                                                                | 208,170                                                                                                                                | 1,068,284                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | 252,734                                                                                                                                | 992,409                                                                                                                                | 212,107                                                                                                                                | 518,734                                                                                                                                |
| BANGLADESH                                                                                                                             | 542,429                                                                                                                                | 530,210                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                        | 3,640                                                                                                                                  | 523,919                                                                                                                                | 383,712                                                                                                                                | 372,964                                                                                                                                | 191,643                                                                                                                                |
| BHUTAN                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                        | 101,510                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | -                                                                                                                                      | 52,109                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                      | 39,497                                                                                                                                 |
| BURMA                                                                                                                                  | 69,606                                                                                                                                 | 26,160                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | 2,855                                                                                                                                  | 15,869                                                                                                                                 | 2,480                                                                                                                                  | 11,393                                                                                                                                 |
| CANADA                                                                                                                                 | 49,429                                                                                                                                 | 315,055                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | 372,624                                                                                                                                | 305,990                                                                                                                                | 215,339                                                                                                                                | 141,824                                                                                                                                |
| CHINA                                                                                                                                  | 158,613                                                                                                                                | 614,854                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | -                                                                                                                                      | -                                                                                                                                      | -                                                                                                                                      | -                                                                                                                                      |
| DENMARK                                                                                                                                | 73,082                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                        | 5,996                                                                                                                                  | -                                                                                                                                      | 32,314                                                                                                                                 | -                                                                                                                                      |

| EGYPT      |         | 60,049    |       | -       | 64,600   | -       | 31,856   |
|------------|---------|-----------|-------|---------|----------|---------|----------|
| ETHIOPIA   |         | 362,096   |       | -       | 354,612  | -       | 206,924  |
| FINLAND    |         | 124,191   |       | -       | 172,558  | -       | 69,363   |
| FRANCE     | 154,414 | 529,465   | 1,345 | 224,879 | 574,594  | 137,749 | 314,104  |
| GEORGIA    |         |           |       | 7,526   | -        | 9,438   | -        |
| GERMANY    | 226,588 | 1,249,781 | 981   | 261,992 | 934,423  | 148,145 | 538,561  |
| HONG KONG  | 254,225 | 1,235,291 |       | 30,756  | 171,347  | 28,646  | 312,947  |
| INDONESIA  |         |           |       |         |          | 15,482  | -        |
| IRAN       |         | 76,934    |       | -       | 35,998   | -       | 15,121   |
| IRAQ       | 2,379   | 78,271    |       | -       | 56,259   | -       | 40,916   |
| ISRAEL     | 95,675  | 49,079    |       | 60,557  | -        | 43,891  | -        |
| ITALY      | 148,382 | -         |       | 13,793  | 7,040    | 42,174  | 37,228   |
| JAPAN      | 78,526  | 230,569   |       | 49,854  | 135,826  | 33,736  | 113,978  |
| JORDAN     |         |           |       | -       | -        |         |          |
| KAZAKHSTAN |         | 106,224   |       | -       | 81,293   | 865     | 25,968   |
| KENYA      | 16,483  | 168,323   |       | 65,175  | 131,175  | 43,299  | 90,810   |

| KOREA        | 44,418    | 192,556   |        | 59,598    | 30,717    | 35,459    | 35,320    |
|--------------|-----------|-----------|--------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| KUWAIT       | 681,792   | 695,011   | 7,254  | 834,221   | 877,060   | 449,313   | 473,355   |
| KYRGYZSTAN   |           |           |        | -         | 3,730     | -         | 13,376    |
| MALAYSIA     | 262,179   | 2,811,470 |        | 128,155   | 1,746,074 | 58,901    | 1,192,622 |
| MALDIVES     | 406,107   | 58,136    | 6,029  | 669,085   | 88,859    | 250,514   | 51,922    |
| MAURITIUS    |           | 207,718   |        | 803       | 135,639   | 26,346    | 76,123    |
| NEPAL        | 512,817   | 248,700   | 3,702  | 626,593   | 240,837   | 489,839   | 116,940   |
| NETHERLANDS  | 13,593    | 364,990   |        | -         | 554,234   | 27,463    | 249,894   |
| OMAN         | 1,147,460 | 1,769,070 | 369    | 1,087,500 | 1,179,650 | 586,437   | 726,149   |
| POLAND       |           |           |        | -         | 110,772   | -         | 48,342    |
| QATAR        | 1,383,884 | 2,025,739 | 12,687 | 1,642,707 | 2,023,800 | 938,724   | 1,021,187 |
| REUNION      |           | 15,802    |        | -         | 11,425    | -         | 111       |
| RUSSIA       |           | 459,182   |        | -         | 100,261   | -         | 76,891    |
| RWANDA       |           | 27,687    |        | -         | 19,019    | -         | 8,141     |
| SAUDI ARABIA | 1,487,288 | 1,576,142 | 11,574 | 2,267,096 | 1,464,072 | 1,318,882 | 796,225   |
| SEYCHELLES   |           | 57,146    |        | -         | 11,275    | -         | 6,009     |

| SINGAPORE            | 1,535,175   | 2,930,427   | 2,702   | 1,314,361   | 2,797,574   | 877,204   | 1,560,947   |
|----------------------|-------------|-------------|---------|-------------|-------------|-----------|-------------|
| SPAIN                | 52,385      |             |         |             |             |           |             |
| SRI LANKA            | 707,424     | 1,788,014   | 5,681   | 355,074     | 917,909     | 333,448   | 512,112     |
| SWEDEN               | 62,526      |             |         |             |             |           |             |
| SWITZERLAND          |             | 248,927     |         | -           | 232,877     | -         | 138,539     |
| TAIWAN               |             | 62,218      |         | -           | -           | -         | -           |
| TANZANIA             |             |             |         | -           | 60,946      | -         | 36,655      |
| THAILAND             | 1,928,590   | 2,354,511   | 2,332   | 1,646,935   | 1,560,781   | 805,044   | 1,042,684   |
| TURKEY               | 146,163     | 354,058     |         | 174,310     | 443,697     | 221,430   | 224,961     |
| TURKMENISTAN         |             | 33,657      |         |             |             |           |             |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 8,187,098   | 10,564,292  | 53,785  | 8,683,913   | 9,517,741   | 4,541,558 | 5,138,364   |
| UNITED KINGDOM       | 849,408     | 1,805,305   | 2,290   | 1,119,742   | 1,301,854   | 715,906   | 784,654     |
| UNITED STATES        | 843,053     | 254,261     |         | 972,666     | 452,381     | 595,750   | 145,996     |
| UZBEKISTAN           |             | 116,176     |         | -           | 76,495      | 1,469     | 56,304      |
| VIETNAM              | 57,151      | -           |         | 79,875      | 204,007     | 109,123   | 206,842     |
| YEMEN                |             | 24,457      |         | -           | 23,300      | -         | 12,393      |

ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.

| Grand Total                                                                                                                                                              | 22,692,001                                                                                                                                                               | 38,050,270                                                                                                                                                               | 114,371                                                                                                                                                                  | 23,858,816                                                                                                                                                               | 30,758,340                                                                                                                                                               | 13,920,178                                                                                                                                                               | 17,508,367                                                                                                                                                               |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 | P-stands for provisional                                                                                                                                                 |
| * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    | * In wake of Covid-19 all Scheduled International Operations carried by Indian Operators have been suspended as per DGCA's Circular dated 26-03-2020.                    |
| ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 | ** As per DGCA's Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 08-03-2022 , Scheduled commercial international passenger services to/fro India were resumed with effect from 27.03.2022 |
| Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               | Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               | Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               | Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               | Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               | Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               | Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               | Note: THIS TABLE DOES NOT INCLUDE PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL SCHEDULED DOMESTIC Operator ENTIRELY OUTSIDE THE INDIAN TERRITORY.                               |