Question : Operation of Private Airlines on Lucrative Routes

(a) whether the Supreme Court slammed the Union Government policy allowing private airlines to fly to lucrative destinations without putting them under the obligation of catering to less economical routes, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Union Government is aware that lucrative air routes are being given to the private airlines whereas the national carriers are operating in uneconomic and far-flung regions, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is not fulfilling its promise to rework the 22 years old route dispersal guidelines to force private airlines to provide link to smaller cities, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) whether there is an urgent need for honest scrutiny and revision of the allocation of air routes to public and private airlines; and

(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Dr Mahesh Sharma)

(a) to (e): Hon''ble Supreme Court while hearing a Special Leave Petition (C) on the issue relating to connectivity/starting of flying operation between Delhi and Shimla, was of the opinion that there is a need to have a fresh look on the Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs). Accordingly, the Ministry has revised the RDGs by including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in Category - II
Routes. RDG laid down by Government specifies that all scheduled operators, including private airlines, are required to deploy in the Category-II routes (North Eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand) at least 10% of their deployed capacity on trunk routes (Category-I routes). Further, at least 10% of the capacity thus required to be deployed on Category-II routes, is required to be deployed for connectivity exclusively within these regions. 50% of the capacity deployed on Category-II routes i.e. Category-III routes.

Scheduled domestic airlines are free to deploy their services on any domestic sector/route subject to the compliance of RDG issued by Government. DGCA is monitoring compliance of RDG on monthly basis and no case of deviation of the RDG by any domestic airlines have been observed as per the monthly traffic data analysis.