Question : INCREASE IN NUMBER OF AIR PASSENGERS

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION ( SHRI PRAFUL PATEL )

(a):- The details of domestic passengers carried during the last three years is as follows:

Year Passengers Carried Growth (in%) (million)
2005 22.3 +22.8	2006 32.7 +46.5	2007 43.3 +32.5	2008(till september) 31.5 -0.71

(b):- In the year 2008 (upto September), the share of scheduled domestic airlines in terms of passengers carried is- NACIL (I) erstwhile Indian Airlines- 15.9%, Jet Airways- 22.4%, JetLite-8%, Air Deccan- 13.3%, Kingfisher Airlines 14.6%, Spicejet-9.8%, Paramount Airways- 1.4%, Go Air- 3.6%, IndiGo-10.8% and MDLR Airlines- 0.2%.

(c) and (d):- To increase the air connectivity between smaller cities, Government introduced the concept of scheduled regional airlines which will primarily operate in a designated region and will not be permitted to operate on the trunk routes as indicated in the Route Dispersal Guidelines issued by the Government.

Under the Category of scheduled regional airline, Government has granted initial NOC to MDLR Airlines, Jagson Airlines, Star Aviation and ZAV Air. MDLR has already commenced air services in the Northern region.