New Delhi: The government is considering allowing non-scheduled operators (NSOP) to fly on regional routes. This, the government believes, will give the proposed Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) a fillip.
NSOPs expressed interest in flying on regional routes at a recent a meeting with Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey. “The idea is to allow an NSOP to convert into a scheduled commuter operator so that they also can operate on those routes,” said a civil aviation ministry official.
According to the official, the ministry will set minimum flying hours for each aircraft of NSOPs for them to convert to a scheduled operator.
This will allow the NSOPs to publish flight schedules and fly on routes not served by existing scheduled airlines.
Despite the sops, scheduled carriers might not be interested in operating such routes because of the absence of smaller aircraft in their fleet. For instance, IndiGo operates with A320 aircraft. “Regional routes cannot be connected by large aircraft. I believe there will be new players that will operate with 18-20-seater aircraft,” Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told Business Standard.
“NSOPs already have 18-20-seater aircraft, which makes them suitable to fly those routes,” the official said. These operators feel that allowing them to take benefit of the scheme will be a game changer for the regional push. “In countries like the US, it is the chartered operators that connect remote cities. If we are allowed to operate on these routes, it will give a push to the regional connectivity plan,” said Jayant Nadkarni, president, Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA).
17/06/16 Arindam Majumder/Business Standard
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
NSOPs expressed interest in flying on regional routes at a recent a meeting with Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey. “The idea is to allow an NSOP to convert into a scheduled commuter operator so that they also can operate on those routes,” said a civil aviation ministry official.
According to the official, the ministry will set minimum flying hours for each aircraft of NSOPs for them to convert to a scheduled operator.
This will allow the NSOPs to publish flight schedules and fly on routes not served by existing scheduled airlines.
Despite the sops, scheduled carriers might not be interested in operating such routes because of the absence of smaller aircraft in their fleet. For instance, IndiGo operates with A320 aircraft. “Regional routes cannot be connected by large aircraft. I believe there will be new players that will operate with 18-20-seater aircraft,” Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told Business Standard.
“NSOPs already have 18-20-seater aircraft, which makes them suitable to fly those routes,” the official said. These operators feel that allowing them to take benefit of the scheme will be a game changer for the regional push. “In countries like the US, it is the chartered operators that connect remote cities. If we are allowed to operate on these routes, it will give a push to the regional connectivity plan,” said Jayant Nadkarni, president, Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA).
17/06/16 Arindam Majumder/Business Standard
