Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Indian Airlines Oppose Regional Connectivity Plan

Indian domestic airlines have voiced opposition to a Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) draft policy on regional and remote connectivity that permits nonscheduled (charter) companies to fly regular service to remote destinations under code-share arrangements with scheduled carriers. Under India’s Route Dispersal Guidelines, domestic airlines must to fly 10 percent of their capacity to identified underserved areas.

In a meeting called by MOCA to debate the draft policy, airlines plan to suggest establishing a regional connectivity fund in line with international practice. The plan would involve charging every passenger a fee, used for subsidizing airline operations for flights to 87 destinations mentioned under the guidelines clause.

The Business Aviation Operators Association (BAOA) has recommended that regulators change the current definition of nonscheduled operators to scheduled commuter airlines for those who propose to operate with an approved timetable. “We have recommended state governments to provide facilities, including security; that is a big cost to operators in codeshare…The major challenge is to release the policy,” said BAOA secretary R.K Bali.
15/09/14 Neelam Mathews/AINonline
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