Question : Increase in Number of Air Passengers

(a) whether the number of air passengers in Jharkhand is increasing every year;

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to augment the air services in view of the increasing number of air passengers in Jharkhand;

(d) whether 100 per cent growth in the passenger and cargo movement have been registered at Aurangabad airport of Maharashtra during the last five years, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether Air India operates only one single flight from the Aurangabad airport, if so, the reasons therefor; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to increase the numbers of flights in the said sector and if so, the details thereof?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) & (b): Ranchi is presently the only operational airport with scheduled commercial flight operations in Jharkhand. Ranchi airport handled 1.04 million passengers during 2016-17, registering growth rate of 40.0% during 2016-17 over 2015-16 and has Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 26.1% during last three years.

(c): Airlines plan their flight schedule on a specific route/cities based on market demand, commercial feasibility and their company policy.

(d): No Madam. Aurangabad Airport witnessed highest growth rate in passenger traffic i.e 8.7% during 2012-13 over 2011-12 and highest cargo traffic growth rate of 48.3% was witnessed during 2014-15 over 2013 14.;

Total passenger and cargo movement witnessed growth rate of 8.6% and 2.1% respectively during 2016-17 over 2015-16.
Total passenger and freight traffic at Aurangabad Airport witnessed Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of (-)6.1% and 11.2% respectively during last five years. Year-wise growth rate for the passenger and cargo during the last five years is given in Annexure-I.

(e): Presently, Air India is operating two flights per day from Aurangabad Airport.

(f): With repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian aviation sector was deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operate. Government has however, laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs) with a view to achieve better connectivity of air transport services of different regions of the country. As such, the airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of RDGs issued by Government.