Question : EXPANSION OF AIR SERVICES

(a) whether there has been a tremendous expansion in the air services through both public and private sectors in the country during the last ten years and there has been considerable increase in the number of air passengers in domestic and international section;

(b) if so, the details thereof in the light of Air India and all the private airlines;

(c) whether Air India is incurring losses even after an unprecedented rise in the air travel due to which its employees are not being paid salaries on time; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

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

(a) and (b): Yes, Madam.During the last ten years, new scheduled private airlines viz. Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines, SpiceJet, Go Air, Paramount Airways, IndoGo and Indus Airways commenced scheduled air transport (Passenger) services and M/s. MDLR Airlines commenced Scheduled Air transport (regional) services.

The details of passenger growth of Air India vis-a-vis scheduled private airlines during the last ten years is as follows:

Domestic

Year	Domestic Passenger Carried	Growth	(in lakhs)	(in %)
National	Private	National	Private	Carrier	Airlines	Carrier	Airlines
1999-00	72.89	54.21
2000-01	70.99	66.13	-2.6	22.0
2001-02	64.21	64.33	-9.6	-2.7
2002-03	62.47	77.04	-2.7	19.8
2003-04	67.06	89.70	7.3	16.4
2004-05	78.45	115.99	17.0	29.3
2005-06	77.63	174.42	-1.0	50.4
2006-07	79.13	278.80	1.9	59.8
2007-08	81.65	362.20	3.2	29.9
2008-09	62.92	331.75	-22.9	-8.4

Year	International Passenger Carried	Growth	(in lakhs)	(in %)
National	Private	National	Private	Carrier	Airlines	Carrier	Airlines
1999-00	24.33	-
2000-01	25.15	-	3.37
2001-02	23.95	-	-4.77
2002-03	26.69	-	11.44
2003-04	28.70	-	7.53
2004-05	34.03	2.24	18.57
2005-06	34.61	6.24	1.70	178.00
2006-07	35.02	10.83	1.18	73.56
2007-08	32.60	18.14	-6.91	67.49
2008-09	24.53	33.90	-24.75	86.88