Question : Occupancy in Air India Flights

(a) the details of occupancy in flights operated by Air India on Delhi-Rajkot and Rajkot-Delhi sector since its inception, month-wise, aircraft-wise;

(b) whether the Government is aware that single service operation a day of an aircraft on the sector is unable to cater to the entire Saurashtra region comprising of 9 Lok Sabha constituencies, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is considering to induct additional aircrafts on the sector keeping in view of the percentage of occupancy;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f) whether any representations have been received for operating additional aircraft on the sector and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a): The details of occupancy in flights operated by Air India on Delhi-Rajkot and Rajkot-Delhi sector since its inception, month-wise, aircraft-wise are available at Annexure.;
;
(b) to (f):Government has laid down Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDG) with a view to achieving better regulation of air transport services taking in to account the need of different regions of the country. The domestic air services in the country have been deregulated. It is up to the airlines to provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand and commercial viability. The scheduled domestic airlines are free to operate anywhere within the county subject to compliance of RDG.;
However, actual operations by any airline is always guided by its commercial judgement upon the traffic demand and economic viability of operations.;
;
Air India has received representations for augmenting the capacity. Currently, Air India has no plans to increase capacity on Delhi-Rajkot-Delhi sector. Additional flights can only be introduced subject to availability of resources.