Civil Aviation

The Airport Authority of India (AAI), constituted on 1st April 1995, operates 127 airports including civil enclave and defence airfields for Commercial Airlines operations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of civil aviation and for the devising and implementing of schemes for an orderly growth and expansion of civil air transport. Its functions also extend to overseeing the provision of airport facilities, air traffic services, carriage of passengers and goods by air, safeguarding civil aviation operations, regulation of air transport services, licensing of aerodromes, air carriers, pilots, and aircraft maintenance engineers.

Airports There are 450 airports in the country in various stages of development. Out of these Ahmadabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad,Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Panaji, Srinagar and Thiruvananthapuram are the international airports.

The improvement in the infrastructural facilities at the airports need heavy capital investment which the government cannot afford of its own. Therefore, private domestic and foreign investors including Non-Resident Indians have been encouraged to participate in the process of improvement of the Indian Airlines.

Cargo In order to help the Indian exports to make their exports more competitive, the Government had introduced in April 1992 an 'Open Sky Policy'lor cargo. Under this policy, foreign airlines or association of exporters can bring any number of freighters to the country for upliftment of cargo. The Government has also permitted market forces to determine cargo traffic with IATA rates as the floor rates.

Agreement between India and USA was signed in 2005 replacing earlier Agreement, signed in 1956. The revised agreement grants unlimited access to the designated airlines to any point of call in the territory of the other country as against four airports under the earlier agreement.

Air India The Air India was constituted in 1947, after which the Air India International launched its first service to London via Cairo and Geneva on June 8, 1948 with Constellation aircraft. In 1952, the Planning Commission recommended the nationalisation of Air Transport Industry which was effected in March 1953 with the creation of nationalised Corporations—Air India International Limited, which retained its identity and international flag carrier status; and the Indian Airlines, to operate domestic services.

Fleet Air India owns a fleet of 16 aircrafts consisting of six B 747-400, two B 747-300, and eight A-310-300. In addition, Air India has inducted six B747-400, eleven A310-300, and four B777-222 on dry lease basis, taking the total number of aircrafts in Air India to 37. Additionally, B737-800 have been leased for Air India Express.

Air India operates 173 flights per week serving .59 stations (45 international and 14 domestic). Air India also has code-share agreements with 12 airlines to offer its passengers more destinations and convenient connections.

Indian Airlines Indian Airlines was set up under the Air Corporation Act, 1953 with an initial capital of Rs. 3.25 crore with its Headquarters at Delhi. The India Airlines is the major domestic air carrier of the country. The Indian Airlines operates to 55 domestic stations alongwith its wholly-owned subsidiary Airlines, Allied Services Ltd. (Alliance Air). Besides Indian Airlines also operates to 18 international stations.

The Indian Airlines presently has a fleet of 73 aircrafts comprising 03 Airbus, A-300s; 48 Airbus, A-320s, 5 Airbus, A-319s; 11 Boeing 737s; 18 Dornier DO- 228; and 04 ATR-42-320. All B-737 and ATR aircrafts are operated by Alliance Air.

In addition to Air India, there are: Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Deccan Aviation Co; Jet-lite, Paramount Airways, MDLR Airways, Jagson Airlines and Go- Air airlines.

Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited The Pawan Ilans Helicopters Ltd (PI I HL) is one of India’s leading helicopter companies and is known for its reliable helicopter operations. The company was incorporated in 1985 with the objective of providing helicopter services to the petroleum sector, linking inaccessible areas of the country and operating charters for promotion of tourism.

Private Companies In addition to these, five companies are providing services in India : out of these Jet Airways and Air Sahara are operating on domestic as well as international air-routes, while Air Deccan, Kingfisher, and Spice-Jet are operating on domestic routes only.