Civil Aviation has been identified as one of the most important growth engines essential for the economic growth of the country. Besides providing air transport for passengers and goods, it facilitates growth of trade and commerce, domestic and foreign investments, transfer of technology, creation of infrastructure, domestic and international tourism and generation of employment etc.
Air transport in India has witnessed enormous growth in the recent past. During the last 10 years, compounded annual growth rate of passenger traffic has been approximately 15%. A key trend in the business model of the Indian Carriers in the domestic operations is that the domestic traffic is rapidly shifting to Low Cost Carriers (LCC). From a level of about 1% in 2003-2004, the market share of LCC including the LCC arm of full service carriers is today exceeding 70% of the total domestic traffic.
India is likely to be the fastest growing aviation market in the world in the next 20 years. Estimates suggest that the domestic air traffic will touch 160–180 million passengers per annum in the next 10 years and the international traffic will exceed 80 million passengers per annum from the current level of 60 million domestic and 40 million international passengers respectively. According to International Air Transport Association’s Airline Industry Forecast 2012-2016,India's domestic air travel market would be among the top five globally, experiencing the second highest growth rate.
Keeping this in mind, a number of steps have been taken by the Government to accelerate the pace of growth of airline industry in the country. These have been summarized as follows
1. EXPANSION AND UPGRADATION OF AIRPORTS:
At present 5 major airports are being operationalized under PPP mode at New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin.
Declaration of Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Varanasi and Lucknow airports as International airports: So far there were 17 international airports. Five new airports at Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Varanasi and Lucknow have been added to the list this year.
2. TURN AROUND / FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURING PLANS OF AIR INDIA:
3. FDI BY FOREIGN AIRLINES IN INDIAN CIVIL AVIATION:
The Government has allowed 49% FDI by the foreign airlines in the domestic carriers.
4. ALLOCATION OF INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC RIGHTS
5. INITIATIVES IN THE AREA OF AIR NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
Navigation: AAI has installed 66 Instrument landing systems and 93 VOR/DME which provide navigational guidance to aircraft. In addition, Satellite Based Navigation System (SBAS) called GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system is being jointly developed and implemented by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The GAGAN is designed to provide the improved accuracy, availability, and integrity necessary to enable users to rely on GPS for all phases of flight, from en route through approach for all qualified airports within the GAGAN service volume. GAGAN will also provide increased positional accuracy of aircraft thereby permitting enhanced safety and operational efficiency. The system will be commissioned by June 2013. India is the fourth country in the world, after USA, JAPAN and Europe to take up the challenge of establishing the regional SBAS Navigation System which will redefine the navigation over Indian airspace and other states falling in the footprint of GAGAN.
6. SIMPLIFICATION OF PROCEDURE FOR SANCTION OF BUILDINGS AROUND AIRPORTS
7. DOMESTIC OPERATIONS
8. HELICOPTER CONNECTIVITY TO VRINDAVAN
9. AIRCARFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BUREAU
Government has set up an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau to efficiently investigate the accidents and to recommend effective corrective measures.
Skill augmentation in civil aviation sector through a vibrant, world class aviation education and training: In this regard, the work to establish a Civil Aviation University is under progress.
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