Question : Review of Civil Aviation Policy

(a) whether fresh National Civil Aviation Policy was introduced nearly six months back with the expectation to spur more players to enter the sector;

(b) if so, whether the aforesaid policy has achieved its expected goals;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with deficiencies noticed for not achieving the desired results;

(d) whether no new airline has entered the sector so far after the launch of new policy and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Union Government proposes to review the National Civil Aviation Policy with a view to ease regional connectivity to start yielding results immediately and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati)

(a) to (c): Ministry of Civil Aviation has released National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016 on 15th June 2016 with a vision to create an eco-system to make flying affordable for the masses and to enable 30 crore domestic ticketing by 2022 and 50 crore by 2027, and international ticketing to increase to 20 crore by 2027. Similarly, cargo volumes should increase to 10 million tonnes by 2027.

Ministry of Civil Aviation has already released Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) for promoting Regional connectivity in the country as envisaged in NCAP - 2016. The Ministry has modified the requirement for 5/20 and all airlines can now commence international operations provided that they deploy 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity (in term of average number of seats on all departures put together), whichever is higher for domestic operations. The Ministry has issued revised categorization of routes under RDG which will apply from the Winter Schedule of 2017. Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) has been issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for liberalizing Domestic Code-share Points in India within the framework of the Air Services Agreement (ASA).

(d): One Regional Scheduled Operator (M/s LEPL Projects Ltd.) has been upgraded to Scheduled Operator on 03.10.2016 and one New Regional Scheduled Operator (Air Carnival Pvt. Ltd.) has entered into the sector on 04.07.2016.

(e):No such review proposal is under consideration of Ministry.