After failing to find much success in connecting smaller cities of the state with Mumbai through non-scheduled operators, the BJP-led government has started exploring the possibility of involving scheduled operators. While it had called a meeting of all such domestic airlines late last month, the carriers, on their part, turned down the request, politely stating that the idea was not feasible.
Scheduled operators are those carriers whose schedules are fixed and approved by aviation regulator The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) well in advance. It includes all the general aviation airlines like Air India, Jet Airways, Spicejet, Indigo, Vistara, etc. As far as these operators are concerned, a passenger can therefore book his/her tickets and fly at a scheduled time, day and location.
However, non-scheduled operators are those airlines that do not have a scheduled timetable or plan. These aircraft fly as and when the demand arises from clients or passengers. Quite a handful of non-scheduled airlines had approached the state government in near past to allow them to start services smaller cities. However, the talks never materialised due to a host of issues.
Dr PS Meena, additional chief secretary, Civil Aviation, did not respond calls made by dna.
A source in the Airport Authority of India having direct knowledge about the development said the meeting saw presence of representatives from various airlines, city airport operator Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), AAI, which manages most of the airports in the country, and Maharashtra Aviation Development Corporation, a state run agency involved with development of airports in Maharashtra.
According to insiders, the airlines and the other attendees said that it was not economically feasible for the scheduled airlines to start services to smaller cities as there are not much traffic on the routes.
"Most of the scheduled airlines have larger aircraft and it doesn't not make any economic sense to fly to smaller cities with less traffic," said a source.
The source added, "Further, it will be difficult for MIAL to accommodate smaller aircraft like ATRs which will have to be pressed into service for flying from smaller airports as mostly larger planes operate from the city airport."
MIAL officials did not comment on the story.
