Regional airlines might be allowed to operate flight services to one additional trunk route outside their region to help them achieve profitability, a senior Government official said on Wednesday.

A regional airline is one that is allowed to operate regular flights within a region.

So a South-based regional airline is allowed to operate flights linking as many towns and cities in South India as it finds commercially viable. But it is not allowed to operate a flight linking, say, Chennai to Delhi or Bengaluru to Mumbai.

“There is a request from the regional players to permit them to fly on a metro route that is outside their region. The government is seriously looking at the proposal,” the official said.

The latest move is being viewed as an attempt to not only boost regional air connectivity but also ensure profitability of such airlines.

New airline

Air Pegasus, promoted by Décor Aviation, is the latest regional airline to commence operations in South India.

It recently commenced commercial operations with daily flights linking Bengaluru to Thiruvananthapuram.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has been emphasising on the need to enhance regional air connectivity.

The Central government recently also came up with the idea of low-cost airports — basic structures where small aircraft can land and take off — to ensure air connectivity to tier II and tier III cities around the country.

Related Topics