While the central government is keen to develop air connectivity in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, experts from the civil aviation sector believe that 50 cities that already have airstrips should be given priority for the development of air connectivity.
Wolfgang prock Schauer, chief executive officer of Go Air airline, told The Asian Age, said, “There are airports in this county which have good facilities, but there is not much flight connectivity. First of all we need to connect them, then go for developing air connectivity in areas where facilities are nil.
“In many areas the country is lacking in connectivity and firstly we should strengthen in those areas, then we should look towards development of more airport areas,” he added.
The much-awaited draft aviation policy unveiled by the government on Friday, stressed on the connectivity between tier2 and tier3 cities. This policy plans to levy a 2% cess onall air tickets to fund regional connectivity scheme.
Commenting on the policy, CEO of Aviation Business & Services Pvt. Ltd Ujjwal Thengdi said, “regional connectivity and small town airports will help airlines to geographically increase the footprint.” Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) president Jayant Nadkarni said the draft policy is a right step in promoting overall growth of the aviation industry. “However, it is disappointing to see that the policy has completely ignored the interests of business and general aviation in India, which forms an important part of the industry,” he added.
The policy has also overlooked the exorbitant and irrational taxation on import of small aircraft, which has been one of the major reasons for the retardation of growth of this sector, Mr Nadkarni added.
