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Civil aviation in India today is a major contributor to the national economy. Apart from providing speedy and cost-effective connectivity in a large country like ours, the aviation sector has also greatly facilitated the development of domestic and international tourism, business, commerce and trade. Air India and Indian Airlines are recognised as the symbols of national pride. Now India has five more scheduled carriers - Alliance Air, Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Deccan Aviation and Blue Dart Aviation. Five more airline companies - Royal Airways, Inter Globe Aviation, Indus Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and Go Airlines have got their “No Objection Certificate” to operate scheduled air transport services. These companies are likely to begin their air transport services soon after getting the Operating permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
On the domestic and international fronts - air traffic and cargo has seen a significant increase between April 2004 and January 2005. Overall aircraft movements both domestic and international have recorded a marked growth.
Connectivity
Enhanced air connectivity is the key to growth. A revised Air Services Agreement between India and USA was signed on April 14, 2005 replacing the earlier Agreement of 1956. The revised Agreement grants unlimited access to the designated airlines to any point of call in the territory of the other country as against four airports under the earlier Agreement. The revised Agreement not only removes all restrictions but also provides for greater operational flexibility.
The decade-long deadlock in air connectivity between India and UK has also been overcome. Entitlements on India-UK sector will go up to 56 services per week on the Delhi/Mumbai - London Heathrow route by the winter of 2006. From the beginning of winter 2005 the designated airlines of India can operate without any capacity limit between India and UK except Delhi/Heathrow and Mumbai/Heathrow routes. The designated airlines of UK can also operate on all other routes to India except Heathrow/Delhi and Heathrow/Mumbai subject to a total capacity limit of 7-services per week to/from each airport in India, except Bangalore and Chennai where the total capacity limit will be increased to 14 services per week each from the beginning of summer, 2006.
During the last few months, entitlements for operations of air services have seen a significant increase on India-France, India-China, India-Mauritius, India-Australia and India-Iran routes. The focus has been to provide sufficient capacity for direct connectivity rather than travel through third country carriers.
Non-availability of seats to and from India during the peak winter season has been one of the major constraints faced by passengers. In order to ensure sufficient availability of seats, a limited open sky policy was adopted by the Government from November 2004 to March 2005. Under this the designated airlines could operate additional services to and from India subject to the existing terms of commercial agreement with Air India/Indian Airlines. A number of airlines responded to the offer and requested for operation of over 2400 additional flights (equivalent to over 5 lakh seats) to different airports in the country during this five-month period. This has ensured greater connectivity to and from India. Passengers have been assured of seats during the peak season rush. This has also given a big boost to tourism in the country.
In pursuance of the policy framework to permit the designated airlines of all countries having Air Services Agreements with India to operate 7 flights per week each to any two international airports in India, the designated airlines of Austria, Finland, Republic of Korea, Maldives, Armenia, Yemen and many more countries have been offered additional capacity, as requested by the respective Governments, subject to reciprocal rights to the Indian carriers.
Indian scheduled carriers with 5 years of domestic operations and a minimum fleet of 20 aircraft have been allowed to operate on all international routes except the Gulf countries, which has been kept reserved for Air India and Indian Airlines for a period of 3 years. Jet Airways and Air Sahara have been permitted to operate to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, UK, Malaysia and Singapore. Besides, Jet Airways has also been permitted to begin flights to Belgium and USA.
Budget Carrier
In what will be a boon for expatriate Indians working in the Gulf region and South-East Asia, Air India has started “Air India Express”, a new budget carrier under the banner of Air India Charters Limited (AICL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India. This carrier has been permitted to operate flights to South East Asia and the Gulf (excluding Saudi Arabia) at substantially reduced fares effective from the summer of 2005. The first successful flight took place on April 29, 2005.
Initiatives
With the start of the summer 2005 schedule. Air-India has enhanced opeartions to a number of more destinations across the world. It is also starting flights that will connect places like Delhi and Amritsar with Birmingham and Toronto; Kolkata and Delhi with Dhaka and London; Mumbai with Hong Kong and Bangkok; Mumbai and Delhi with Seoul and Hong Kong; Mumbai and Mauritius and so on.
In compliance of the announcement made by the Prime Minister at Guwahati, Indian Airlines introduced a biweekly Guwahati – Bangkok flight from January 1, 2005.
The Indian civil aviation sector is undergoing a sea change for the better. Air travel is no more reserved for the select few. The common man can now easily fulfil his dream to fly places.
*Information Officer, PIB, Delhi
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