Lok Sabha Question No. 4062 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Increase in Domestic Air Traffic
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Gaddigoudar Parvatagouda Chandanagouda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4062

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  19th December 2024 )

INCREASE IN DOMESTIC AIR TRAFFIC

4062.    SHRI GADDIGOUDAR

## PARVATAGOUDA CHANDANAGOUDA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that domestic air traffic hits 5,00,000 mark, the highest ever single day passenger footfall during the last few weeks and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  top  fifteen  airports  with  the  highest  number  of  domestic passengers footfall during the current year;
- (c) the domestic air passenger traffic data since 2014, year-wise; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by the Government to make air travel more easy and affordable for citizens in the country?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

- (a) The domestic passenger traffic has crossed the 5,00,000 mark on
- 17th and 24th November 2024.
- (b)  The  top  fifteen  airports  with  the  highest  number  of  domestic passengers  footfall  handled  during  the  current  year  is  given  at Annexure-I.
- (c) The domestic air passenger traffic data from 2013-14 to 2023-24 is given at Annexure-II.

(d) The Government launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) in October 2016 to enhance regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country for making air travel affordable to the masses. 615 routes connecting 87 Aerodromes (including 13 Heliports and 2 water-aerodromes) have been  operationalised  under  the  RCS-UDAN  Scheme  as  on  date.  To ensure  the  affordability  of  regional  air  travel,  the  UDAN  scheme provides  financial  incentives  to  airline  operators  on  regional  routes that include: Concessions by the Central Government, State Governments/ Union Territories and airport operators to reduce airline operation costs and also the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to bridge the gap between operational costs and expected revenues on such routes. The airfare on the RCS seats on which VGF is provided to the Selected Airline Operators (SAOs) is for a 3-year tenure and Airfare is capped at a subsidized rate and which is liable to be indexed at every quarter. There is a maximum permissible Airfare cap for RCS seats as specified under the contract, and no airfare cap is fixed for Non-RCS seats. The above  measures  aim  to  strengthen  affordability,  accessibility  and overall passenger convenience in the aviation sector, thereby promoting regional development and economic growth.

******

## Annexure-I

| Top 15 Airports with highest domestic passengers handled during current year 2024-25 (April-November)   | Top 15 Airports with highest domestic passengers handled during current year 2024-25 (April-November)   | Top 15 Airports with highest domestic passengers handled during current year 2024-25 (April-November)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Rank                                                                                                    | Airport Passengers (In Million)                                                                         |                                                                                                         |
| 1                                                                                                       | DELHI (DIAL) 37.72                                                                                      |                                                                                                         |
| 2 MUMBAI (MIAL)                                                                                         | 25.77                                                                                                   |                                                                                                         |
| 3 BENGALURU (BIAL)                                                                                      | 23.80                                                                                                   |                                                                                                         |
| 4 HYDERABAD (GHIAL)                                                                                     | 15.63                                                                                                   |                                                                                                         |
| 5 KOLKATA                                                                                               | 12.57                                                                                                   |                                                                                                         |
| 6 CHENNAI                                                                                               | 10.68                                                                                                   |                                                                                                         |
| 7 AHMEDABAD                                                                                             | 7.04                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 8 PUNE                                                                                                  | 6.74                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 9 GOA (DABOLIM)                                                                                         | 4.39                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 10 GUWAHATI                                                                                             | 3.89                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 11 KOCHI                                                                                                | 3.85                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 12 JAIPUR                                                                                               | 3.48                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 13 LUCKNOW                                                                                              | 3.42                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 14 SRINAGAR                                                                                             | 3.07                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |
| 15 BHUBANESWAR                                                                                          | 2.96                                                                                                    |                                                                                                         |

## Annexure-II

| Domestic Passengers Handled at All Indian Airports taken together 2013-14 to 2023-24   | Domestic Passengers Handled at All Indian Airports taken together 2013-14 to 2023-24   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                                   | Passengers (In Million)                                                                |
| 2013-14                                                                                | 122.30                                                                                 |
| 2014-15                                                                                | 139.33                                                                                 |
| 2015-16                                                                                | 169.29                                                                                 |
| 2016-17                                                                                | 205.68                                                                                 |
| 2017-18                                                                                | 243.28                                                                                 |
| 2018-19                                                                                | 275.22                                                                                 |
| 2019-20                                                                                | 274.51                                                                                 |
| 2020-21                                                                                | 105.25                                                                                 |
| 2021-22                                                                                | 166.80                                                                                 |
| 2022-23                                                                                | 270.34                                                                                 |
| 2023-24                                                                                | 306.79                                                                                 |