The Hindu Business Line : Plan for 80-seater aircraft to link small cities: Patel

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Kochi Feb. 19 The Union Civil Aviation Ministry proposes to link smaller cities with smaller aircraft as part of its scheme to provide better connectivity across the country, especially in South India.

The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, said here on Monday that the Ministry has plans to introduce smaller aircraft with 80-seater capacity to many smaller cities in the country and provide better connectivity with the commencement of this service.

Mr Patel, who was here in connection with the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to the Civil Aviation Ministry, told presspersons that the Ministry is primarily focussing on connectivity in South India especially in Kerala considering the growth potential in tourism in the region.

"I feel that there is a big opportunity for growth in the aviation sector as there has been a growth close to 50 per cent in the domestic sector, which is the highest in the world and 25 per cent in the international sector", he added.

The Ministry has also plans to connect the places of pilgrimage in the country by air to provide a hassle-free travel to pilgrims.

Many of the members of the Consultative Committee had also insisted for better connectivity to places of worship such as Tirupati, Vaishno Devi, Sabarimala, Shirdi, Ajmer etc.

"We are looking into the prospects in this regard as these centres can be developed through good aviation network," he added.

According to Mr Patel, the Agathi Airport at Lakshadweep Islands would be expanded to allow bigger aircraft considering the tourism potential in the Islands. The technical study as part of upgrading the airport will be carried out by IIT. Likewise, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will also have better connectivity.

He said that the recently introduced thrice-a-week Air India direct flight between Kochi and Delhi would eventually be upgraded into a daily flight in view of the tourism potential in the State. On the proposed Kannur airport, the Minister said it would be developed on the lines of Cochin International Airport Ltd with private participation. Moreover, the Kozhikode airport would be opened up to more international carriers soon.

On the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, the Minister said that it is in the process and issues being discussed at the the Group of Ministers meeting. The next meeting is scheduled to be held on February 21 and there are some issues regarding taxation, stamp duty etc. He assured that all the benefits of the employees will be protected and a better wage parity will be given to employees. There is a need for a merger of both these organisations in order to compete with international aviation companies, he said.