Increase in Domestic Passengers
Passenger growth of 58.5% witnessed in 2021-22 under UDAN Scheme
UDAN Scheme has completed its successful five years in 2021
During 2019-20, all Indian airports across the country handled 275 million domestic passenger traffic. Due to the adverse effect of COVID-19 on aviation industry worldwide, the domestic passenger traffic in India decreased to 105 million during 2020-21. The details of last five years domestic passenger traffic and corresponding growth rate are attached at Annexure.
Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) on 21-10-2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable for the masses. The UDAN scheme envisages providing connectivity to unserved and underserved airports of the country through revival of the existing airstrips and airports. Under the UDAN Scheme, the Government has targeted an indicative airfare at Rs. 2500 for a distance of 500 km to 600 km per RCS seat under Regional Connectivity routes (equivalent to one-hour flight). This airfare is subject to indexation as per the formula specified in the UDAN Scheme document.
Airfares are market driven and are neither regulated nor established by the Government. Airlines are free to fix reasonable tariffs taking into consideration all relevant factors which include the cost of operation, characteristics of service and reasonable profit. Airlines, however, remain compliant with the regulatory provisions under Aircraft Rules, 1937 as long as the fare charged by them does not exceed the fare established and displayed on their website.
The Government, however, as an extraordinary measure during the COVID 19 pandemic and in exercise of special powers conferred under the Aircraft Act, 1934, notified in May 2020, fare bands for economy class tickets for scheduled domestic sector. The Fare capping orders are currently operational on a rolling basis of 15 days cycle.
Annexure-
Details of last five-year domestic passenger traffic and corresponding growth rate
|
Financial year
|
Domestic passengers
(in millions)
|
Percentagegrowth
|
|
2017-18
|
243
|
18.3%
|
|
2018-19
|
275
|
13.1%
|
|
2019-20
|
274
|
-0.3%
|
|
2020-21
|
105
|
-61.7%
|
|
2021-22
|
167
|
58.5%
|
(Source: Airports Authority of India)
This information was given by the Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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YB/DNS
(Release ID :236038)