Lok Sabha Question No. 1135 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Regional Air Connectivity in Odisha
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1135

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  5th February 2026 )

## REGIONAL AIR CONNECTIVITY IN ODISHA

1135.    SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) the progress in fleet integration and operational readiness including induction of wide-body  and  narrow-body  aircraft  and  the  measures  taken  to  ensure  aircraft availability,  on-time  performance  and  improved  regional  connectivity  to  Odisha including districts serving Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency;

(b) the steps taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airline operators to strengthen aviation safety oversight through audits, inspections, capacity building and digital monitoring during sectoral expansion; and

(c) the impact of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price trends on airfares and the efforts being made by the Union Government in coordination with the State Governments to rationalise  ATF  taxation,  safeguards  against  surge  in  pricing  and  improvements  in grievance redressal to ensure affordable, safe and reliable air travel for passengers from Odisha including  aspirational  and  tribal  regions  with  potential  for  agri-eco-tourism around Kandhamal?

## ANSWER

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

((a) & (b) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a robust mechanism in place to monitor the induction of aircraft by airlines, On-Time Performance (OTP) and route rationalisation across the nation including Odisha. Further, DGCA has put in place a multi-layered oversight mechanism to ensure that safety standards are strictly complied with by airlines, particularly during phases of rapid expansion in fleet size and operations. All expansion activities, including induction of aircraft, increase in flight operations, route expansion and wet/dry leasing, are subject to prior approval by DGCA after detailed scrutiny of safety preparedness. DGCA conducts periodic and special  audits,  inspections  and  surveillance  activities  covering  flight  operations, airworthiness, training, safety management systems (SMS) and maintenance practices. DGCA conduct meetings with airline  management  and  key  post-holders  to  review operational performance, safety indicators, and manpower adequacy and compliance status.  In  case  of  deficiencies,  DGCA  takes  corrective  and  enforcement  action, including  issuance  of  show  cause  notices,  operational  restrictions  or  suspension  of approvals and financial penalty, as necessary.

(c): Airfares are influenced by multiple factors including Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) costs, Value Added Tax levied on ATF by State/UT Governments, market competition, passenger demand and seasonal variations. ATF prices are market-linked and form a significant  component  of  airline  operating  costs.  In  a  deregulated  aviation  sector, airfares are determined by airlines based on market forces, in accordance with Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

While the Government does not regulate airfares in normal circumstances to preserve competition,  it  remains  vigilant  and  intervenes  in  exceptional  situations  to  prevent unreasonable  or  opportunistic  pricing,  including  through  temporary  fare  caps  or capacity rationalisation, in the interest of passenger welfare.

Further, the AirSewa portal, an initiative by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) enables grievance redressal in a time bound manner and provides a one-stop solution for hassle-free air travel.

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