National Policy on Civil Aviation under consideration
A National Policy on Civil Aviation is under consideration of the government, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel informed the Rajya Sabha today.
In a written reply to another question, he said Jet Airways was designated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to operate to and from USA as it fulfilled all necessary requirements to operate on international routes.
However, he said the matter regarding denial of permission by US authorities to Jet airways to operate to/from USA is under examination by the Ministry of External Affairs in consultation with concerned agencies.
He also informed the House that the Airport Authorities of India maintained transit rooms for ordinary passengers at Delhi and Mumbai airports.
The facility at Mumbai Airport has been temporarily withdrawn due to development/construction activities at site. This facility has been withdrawn on temporary basis as part of modernisation and the present security threat prevailing in the country, he said.
At Delhi airport there are nine rooms and Mumbai airport has 14 rooms.
Replying to another question, Patel said though there is a restrictive condition of non-refundable tickets, under special schemes such as “unchecked fares” where very low fares are offered.
He said Indian Airlines being a commercial organisation has to act on business principles and, as such, has to ensure that promotional fares/schemes offered by it do not become counter productive.
The Aviation Minister informed the Upper House that the WHO has issued directives to the airlines to protect the travellers, while flying in the aircraft, to be away from passengers with Tuberculosis and other fatal diseases. He said the guidelines provide for certain steps to be taken by the airline operators to avoide the risk of transmission of tuberculosis during flight, he said adding that government has issued a circular to all operators for compliance.
According to guidelines issued by WHO, Patel said airline companies should deny boarding to any person who is known to have infectious tuberculosis and is intending to travel on a flight whose total duration is likely to be at least eight hours.
On the question of bird hit at Delhi Airport, he said in the year 2006 (till date), only five bird hit incidents have taken place as against nine reported in the year 2005.
To a question on the funds released to AAI for upgradation/development of various airports, Patel said funds is released by the government as budgetary support only for the development of airports in North Eastern Region and certain crucial areas such as Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar.
During the last three years, 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06, the budgetary support released to AAI is Rs 22.08 crore, Rs 30 crore and Rs 36 crore respectively, he said.