(a) whether the domestic airlines seats per capita in the country is very low in comparison to other countries;
(b) if so, the details thereof for the last three years, year-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to tap the market opportunity to develop the airline industry; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)
(a) and (b): The statement of the seat per capita in the country is at Annexure-1.
(c) and (d): Government has recently released National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016. The broad key features of the NCAP are as under:
i) VGF for operation under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
ii) Revival of un-served or under-served routes under RCS.
iii) Introduction of a new Category ''Schedule Commuter Operator'' under Commercial Air Transport Operations.
iv) Rationalization of Category-I routes under Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs) on the basis of criteria given in NCAP 2016.
v) The requirement of 5 years and 20 aircrafts for international operation has been modified to 0 years and 20 aircrafts or 20% of the total capacity (in terms of average number of seats on all departure put together) whichever is higher for domestic operations.
vi) Liberalization of domestic code share points in India within the framework of ASA.