Air traffic for 2005-06 shows massive increase over 2004-05

Cochin: The Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the ministry of civil aviation, which met at Cochin in Kerala today, was informed that air traffic in the country had undergone a massive increase over 2004-05. Air traffic in the southern half of India, in particular, accounted for almost one-third share of all air traffic in the country.

The minister for civil aviation, Praful Patel, chaired the meeting, which focussed on airport infrastructure and air connectivity in Southern India.

Air traffic during 2005-06 has undergone a massive increase over 2004-05, with aircraft movements up by 17%, total number of passengers up by 24% and cargo up by 10%. Across the airports of Southern Indian itself, aircraft movements had gone up by 30%, passengers up by 33% and cargo up by 10%.

Total passenger traffic in India during the period 2005-06 was 73.35 million, of which Southern India alone accounted for 22.24 million, or 30.3% of the total. Also, in the same period, 1404 metric tonnes of cargo was handled all over the country, of which 445 thousand metric tonnes, or 31.7% of the total, was handled in South India alone.

At present there are 29 airports in the southern half of India, of which 19 maintain scheduled air services. Of these 19 airports, five are located in Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Vijayawada and Vizag; five in Karnataka - Banglaore, Belgaum, Hubli, Mangalore and Vidyanagar, three in Kerala - Calicut, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram, five in Tamil Nadu - Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichi and Tuticorin and one in Lakshadweep - Agatti.

Besides, there are seven operational airports that are used for small aircraft operations and flying club activities.

Amongst the airlines, Air Deccan provides the maximum connectivity in the southern half of India, connecting 18 stations in the region. Amongst the other airlines, Indian connects 10 stations, Alliance Air 4 stations, Jet Airways 9 stations, Air Sahara 6 stations, Paramount 8 stations, Kingfisher 12 stations, Spice Jet 3 stations, Go Air 4 stations and IndiGo 3 stations.

The committee was informed that air connectivity across the country would be increased in the summer of 2007. The summer schedule would become effective from the last Sunday of March 2007.

The minister also informed the members that the ministry had moved a note to the FIPB for allowing 100 per cent FDI for sea planes which would help to build connectivity and tourism along the long coastline of India, and also provide connectivity and tourism opportunities to the island archipelago's on either side of the Indian mainland, which have great potential for high-end tourism.