Page 11 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE SPICEJET

already one of the world’s fastest growing
aviation markets. In the new aviation policy,
the Indian government plans to build a
network that will lead to an upturn in air
travel. India’s aviation sector, which already
has 80 million passengers, is growing at
20 per cent annually. “India will be the 3rd
largest civil aviation market by 2022. To
achieve this, we need right intentions, vision,
planning and execution,” India’s Civil Aviation
Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju says.
The policy aims to make India figure
among the three largest aviation hubs in
terms of passengers within the next decade.
It is currently in ninth position. According
to the minister, many of the more than 350
airports and airstrips that India built during
and after World War II are not operational. “A
new scheme will seek to revive as many as
have passengers paying lower fares than part of its new business initiative, MEHAIR possible as no-frills airports, at an investment
needed (in terms of cost) and hence we need is inducting 19 seat, twin engine aircraft for of 500 million rupees each. “Apart from
support of Government of India,” says Singh. connecting Tier II and Tier III geographies funding, there will not be any airport charges
“We hope that with these demonstrations, with the metros through its own initiative. It -- like for landing, parking as also navigation
we would be able to impress upon the will start its operations from Maharashtra -- to the un-connected airport. The service
government, our willingness to go ahead where it plans to connect Mumbai with tax will also be reduced by 90 per cent on
with this project and have their support too.” Shirdi, Nanded, Sholapur, Kohlapur, Latur, the ticket which would make the effective
These aircraft can be used not only to carry etc, and will slowly progress to other parts of rate come down to 1.2 per cent,” he adds.
passengers but also for adventure sports India, including the Northeast. As per the data furnished by the Airports
and even rescue operations. Under the Ude The company is planning to commence Authority of India (AAI), the country had seen
Desh ke Aam Nagrik or UDAN scheme, the the hub-and-spoke system wherever feasible 168.89 million domestic and over 54 million
government encourages airlines to fly and to cross-feed business to the seaplane and international air travellers in 2015-16. India’s
connect smaller and remote areas of the the regional service verticals of the company. domestic air traffic market grew at nearly 22
country. Airlines are also given subsidies if The first service of the regional routes is per cent in the first half of 2017 maintaining a
they manage to sell a certain number of seats. expected to commence operations with double-digit traffic growth over the past two
Aviation regulators are studying whether the first of the aircraft by the end of 2017 or years,” global airlines body, International Air
to allow such planes into the commercial early next year. Over the next three years, Transport Association (IATA) says. According
fleet and are reviewing a list of about 20 the company expects to deploy between 10 to the Civil Aviation Ministry there are 394
proposed landing sites, a government official of these aircraft across India to service the un-served and 16 under-served airports in
says. Decisions are likely by the end of the regional routes. India. “Airports are in short supply in India,”
year. “The government doesn’t allow single- The Civil Aviation Ministry has started Singh says. The amphibious aircraft will
engine aircraft to fly commercially because conducting mandatory tests required help in penetrating the markets that are yet
of safety concerns, and any airline trying to for permitting licenses to kick-start the untapped, he hopes.
operate amphibious aircraft likely will face construction of water aerodromes in
opposition from environmental groups, Maharashtra and Northeastern states, to oPPosite PAge: Indian LCC
local communities and nongovernmental begin with. SpiceJet is exploring the
organisations,” says Amber Dubey, India head commercial viability for its
of aerospace and defence at KPMG. Regional Connectivity amphibian airplanes project, which
Despite tremendous growth in India’s civil could result in the acquisition of
Joining the Fray aviation sector, air connectivity to smaller more than 100 aircraft
Along with SpiceJet, Mehair and Kochi- towns and cities has lagged behind as toP: Small capacity commuter
based Sea Bird Seaplane Pvt Ltd are the compared to the big metros, mainly due to aircraft are being considered
other seaplane players in the fray. Sea Bird a lack of proper infrastructure. The country by a number of existing and
new players in India’s domestic
Seaplane is said to have received the NOC (no has now launched the Regional Connectivity aviation market for regional
objection certificate) from the regulator. As Scheme to get more people flying in what is connectivity operations
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