The document addresses Unstarred Question No. 995 in the Lok Sabha, concerning air connectivity from Tiruchirappalli International Airport, to be answered on February 5, 2026. Shri Durai Vaiko asks the Minister of Civil Aviation about the assessment of expanding air connectivity to eastern and north-eastern regions, particularly Kolkata and Guwahati, and whether any proposals are being considered to introduce direct flights from Tiruchirappalli to Kolkata and Guwahati under the UDAN Scheme or other aviation schemes. Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, responds that since the deregulation of Indian domestic aviation in March 1994, airlines are free to induct capacity and select markets based on their operational and commercial viability. Tiruchirappalli is classified as a served airport under the UDAN scheme, routes connecting served airports do not fall under the scheme's purview, which primarily aims to connect unserved and underserved airports. Indigo and Air India Express operate 144 weekly flights (arrival + departure) from Tiruchirappalli International Airport, connecting it to Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Shamshabad, Chennai, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN Scheme: A regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Government of India
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to civil aviation in India.
Tiruchirappalli International Airport: The airport from which air connectivity expansion is being questioned.
Air Corporations Act: The act repealed in March 1994 that deregulated the Indian domestic aviation market.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 995
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
AIR CONNECTIVITY FROM TIRUCHIRAPPALLI INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT
995. SHRI DURAI VAIKO
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has assessed the need for expanding air connectivity to
eastern and north-eastern regions of the country, particularly to Kolkata and Guwahati
in view of passenger demand, trade, education and tourism and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any proposal has been received or is under consideration to introduce direct
flights from the said airport to Kolkata and Guwahati under the UDAN Scheme or other
aviation schemes; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the timeline fixed for commencement of such services
and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (d): With the repeal of Air Corporations Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic
aviation was deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type,
free to select whatever markets and network they wish to service and operate. Hence,
it is upto the airline operators to introduce air services to/from any airport in the country
depending on their operational & commercial viability.
Tiruchirappalli is a served airport as per the definition in the UDAN scheme and
therefore the routes connecting two served airports do not come under the purview of
the scheme which primarily aims to provide air connectivity to unserved and
underserved airports.
Further, M/s Indigo & M/s Air India Express operates 144 flights weekly (arrival +
departure) from Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu connecting
Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Shamshabad, Chennai & Thiruvananthapuram.;
******