Lok Sabha Question No. 203 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: Discontinuation of UDAN Routes
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Jagdambika Pal, Dr. Rajesh Mishra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 203

(To be answered on the 13 th  March 2025)

## DISCONTINUATION OF UDAN ROUTES

## *203. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL DR. RAJESH MISHRA

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the disruptions caused due to COVID-19, global engine issues and airline shutdowns have led to the discontinuation of 114 UDAN routes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government to address such issues;
- (c) the details on the process along with the timeline set for re-bidding and reawarding the said discontinued routes; and
- (d) the corrective steps being taken by the Government to mitigate the impact of the poor weather conditions and operational constraints on UDAN flight cancellations?

## ANSWER

(Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 203 FOR REPLY ON 13.03.2025 REGARDING DISCONTINUATION OF UDAN ROUTES

ASKED BY SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL AND DR. RAJESH MISHRA (a) to (c): Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), 114 RCS routes have been discontinued due to various reasons such as COVID-19 pandemic, grounding of many aircraft due to supply chain issues, shutting down of airlines and low passenger demand on some routes. The Government regularly monitors the routes that have ceased operations under UDAN and conducts special bidding rounds to operationalize such routes. Routes that were discontinued due to various reasons as mentioned above have been re-bid, awarded and operationalized in the subsequent rounds. Out of the 114 such routes that were discontinued, 26 routes are currently operational under the scheme after being awarded to other Selected Airline Operators (SAOs) in subsequent bidding rounds. Additionally, 20 routes are also being commercially operated by other airlines outside the UDAN scheme,  without  Viability  Gap  Funding  (VGF)  or  any  other concessions. 42 routes are not fulfilling the criteria of being an RCS route for rebidding as both the airports connecting the route are served airports. Further, the operationalization of balance 26 routes which are eligible and fulfil  the  criteria  of  an  RCS route shall be be considered as per UDAN provisions, upon receipt of valid bids. (d) In the event of flight cancellations, including UDAN Flights, DGCA has issued Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV titled as "Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights". As per the provision specified in the aforementioned CAR, following facilities shall be offered to the affected passengers: (i) Meals and refreshments in relation to waiting time to the passengers, who have checked in on time and the airline expects a delay of two hours or more of its original announced scheduled time of departure or a revised time of departure. Flight Delay upto 2 hour - Drinking Water Between 2 to 4 hours - Tea / Coffee with snacks / refreshment More than 4 hours - Meals

(ii)  Hotel accommodation, including transfers, in case there is overnight delay. (iii)   If the excepted delay is more than 6 hours, airlines shall offer an option of either an alternate flight / full refund. Further,  to  reduce  cancellations  due  to  low  visibility  in  poor  weather conditions, AAI is increasingly adopting technologies like Special VFR, IFR and RNP procedures at airports.

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