New Delhi: In June 2018, Jet Airways and IndiGo started flights under the ambitious regional connectivity scheme (RCS), christened as UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik). As Jet's Delhi to Nashik and IndiGo's Hubli to Kochi flights took to the skies, it marked the turning of a new chapter in the history of UDAN-RCS - a scheme that envisages use of small aircraft to connect unserved and underserved airports to regional centres near them.
But has the scheme been an out and out success? Not really, say experts. Though it has covered 453 routes, involving 160 airports, airstrips and helipads, in the initial two rounds of bidding, less than 100 of these are operational. The reasons range from lack of quality infrastructure and delay in clearances to controversy over VGF (scheduled airlines operating from major airports have moved court against the levy of `8,000 per flight for raising money for VGF). The chinks in the scheme's structure are preventing it from living up to its full potential.
The stakeholders are trying hard to start as many routes as possible but it will take a long time to start services on even half the routes that have been allotted. "Out of 71 RCS airports to be connected in the first two bidding rounds, we have achieved connectivity to 31. The rest are likely to be connected in another six months. Some of these airports are under development," says G.K. Chaukiyal, Member (Operations) at the Airports Authority of India or AAI.
While Jet Airways started operations under UDAN routes at one go this June and SpiceJet has been on the top of the game right from the first round, the problem lies more with the smaller carriers, which have won more routes than others and are now finding it difficult to implement their plans due to several reasons. The list of those that have not started operations after winning the bids includes Ghodawat Group-promoted Star Air, AAA Aviation Private Ltd. and Heritage Aviation Private Ltd.
Then there are states that went all out to attract UDAN flights but could not deliver what they promised. The government made a list of 71 unserved/underserved airports, of which 11 were in Uttar Pradesh, seven in Gujarat and five in Maharashtra. As per the data submitted by the government in Parliament, operations have started at just 31 of these - the highest number is five in Gujarat and four in Punjab. The others are lagging. Eight out of 11 airports in Uttar Pradesh, for instance, are yet to see start of operations. West Bengal and Jharkhand have three airports each under the scheme, but these are yet to see a single flight under UDAN.
19/07/18 Ameya Joshi/Business Today
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But has the scheme been an out and out success? Not really, say experts. Though it has covered 453 routes, involving 160 airports, airstrips and helipads, in the initial two rounds of bidding, less than 100 of these are operational. The reasons range from lack of quality infrastructure and delay in clearances to controversy over VGF (scheduled airlines operating from major airports have moved court against the levy of `8,000 per flight for raising money for VGF). The chinks in the scheme's structure are preventing it from living up to its full potential.
The stakeholders are trying hard to start as many routes as possible but it will take a long time to start services on even half the routes that have been allotted. "Out of 71 RCS airports to be connected in the first two bidding rounds, we have achieved connectivity to 31. The rest are likely to be connected in another six months. Some of these airports are under development," says G.K. Chaukiyal, Member (Operations) at the Airports Authority of India or AAI.
While Jet Airways started operations under UDAN routes at one go this June and SpiceJet has been on the top of the game right from the first round, the problem lies more with the smaller carriers, which have won more routes than others and are now finding it difficult to implement their plans due to several reasons. The list of those that have not started operations after winning the bids includes Ghodawat Group-promoted Star Air, AAA Aviation Private Ltd. and Heritage Aviation Private Ltd.
Then there are states that went all out to attract UDAN flights but could not deliver what they promised. The government made a list of 71 unserved/underserved airports, of which 11 were in Uttar Pradesh, seven in Gujarat and five in Maharashtra. As per the data submitted by the government in Parliament, operations have started at just 31 of these - the highest number is five in Gujarat and four in Punjab. The others are lagging. Eight out of 11 airports in Uttar Pradesh, for instance, are yet to see start of operations. West Bengal and Jharkhand have three airports each under the scheme, but these are yet to see a single flight under UDAN.
19/07/18 Ameya Joshi/Business Today
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