Essential Air Services Fund being proposed by Civil Aviation Ministry

An Essential Air Services Fund is being proposed by Civil Aviation Ministry for providing subsidy for development of low-cost airports. This is to encourage domestic airlines to fly on remote interior routes with tourism potential.
This was stated by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ajit Singh. Speaking at the valedictory function of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) in Mumbai today, he said that the Ministry is also in the process to enhance the present operations of helicopters to improve connectivity of smaller places including places of religious and tourist places of importance with bigger cities. Shri Singh said that 19 places which are important from pilgrimage/tourist point of view, have been identified in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism and it is proposed to connect these places not only with more airports but frequencies of affordable flights are also proposed to be enhanced.
Speaking about foreign tourist arrival 95 per cent of who come by air, he said during 2011, there were 6.29 million, with a growth of 8.9% over 2010, which is double the growth rate in this sector worldwide (4.4%).
Shri Ajit Singh also said that the Air Traffic Forecast by the Working Group under National Transport Development Policy Committee has concluded that Domestic Air Traffic by scheduled carriers in India in 2020-21 is set to cross 159 million passengers as against 54 million in 2010-11 suggesting a growth of approximately 3 times the present traffic in 10 years.
06/09/12 OdissaDiary.com

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Categories: airports Sep 2012, Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2012, New Sep 2012