Question : Frequency of Flights

(a) the number of daily flights, passenger seats and occupancy operated by Air India and other airlines betwen Delhi-Dehradun and vice-versa during the last three years and the current year, year-wise and airlineswise;

(b) whether instances of changing of the seating capacity as well the type of Aircraft by Air India, thus affecting the total number of seats available on the said route on a particular day came to the notice during the said period; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

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

(a) :The number of daily flights operated by the scheduled domestic airlines between Delhi & Dehradun & vice versa in the year 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 are as Annexure. The seat factor of Alliance Air on Delhi- Dehradun-Delhi route for the last three year is as follows:

2012-2013
Delhi/Dehradun -Seat Factor 75.7 (five frequencies)
Dehradun/Delhi -Seat Factor 75.9 (five frequencies)

2013-2014
Delhi/Dehradun -Seat Factor 78.6 (daily)

Dehradun/Delhi -Seat Factor 78.7 (daily)

2014-2015
Delhi/Dehradun -Seat Factor 76.7 (six frequencies)
Dehradun/Delhi -Seat Factor 79.9 (six frequencies)

2015-2016 (till October, 2015)
Delhi/Dehradun -Seat Factor 76 (daily)
Dehradun/Delhi -Seat Factor 78 (daily)

However, in respect of other airlines, sector-wise passenger load factor of schedule domestic operations is not maintained by the Ministry.

(b) & (c) : It is the prerogative of scheduled domestic airlines to analyse the suitability of aircraft for commercial operation on a particular sector subject to suitability of airport. However, in the case of Alliance Air, on the Delhi-Dehradun-Sector on certain occasions when 70 seater aircraft was not available, two flights with 46 seater ATR-42 aircraft were operated thereby providing 92 seats. Presently, the flights are being operated with ATR-72-600 (70 seater).