(a) whether there is any proposal to increase the number of flights connecting Surat city with Mumbai, Delhi and other parts of the country; and
(b) if so, the details and the present status thereof along with the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Dr. Mahesh Sharma)
(a) & (b): Government has laid down route dispersal guidelines with a view to achieve better regulation of air transport services taking into account the need for air transport services of different regions of the country.It is, however, up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. As such the airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to compliance of route dispersal guidelines issued by the Government. However, Air India has informed that expansion of air services to surat is under their consideration subject to induction of additional aircraft capacity.