**Executive Summary**
This document contains the response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to Unstarred Question No. 998, regarding the deployment of suitable aircraft on regional routes, to be answered on February 5th, 2026. The response addresses concerns about the deployment of small aircraft on high-demand routes, airline operator freedom in fleet and route selection, and steps taken to maintain service standards. It highlights the deregulation of the aviation sector and outlines passenger rights protections.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Aviation Deregulation:**
* The repeal of the Air Corporations Act in March 1994 deregulated Indian domestic aviation.
* Airlines are free to choose aircraft type, markets, and networks based on operational and commercial viability.
* **Passenger Rights and Protections:**
* The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a 'Passenger Charter' to increase awareness of passengers' rights in various situations (e.g., flight delays, cancellations).
* The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV, to provide facilities to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights.
* The AirSewa portal enables timely grievance redressal and provides a one-stop solution for hassle-free air travel.
* Passengers can submit and track grievances related to various stakeholders and grievance categories.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact**: The State Government of Tamil Nadu will understand the Union Government's position on airline operator autonomy.
* **Action Required**: No direct action is required, but the State Government of Tamil Nadu should note the deregulation of aviation.
**Airline Operators**
* **Impact**: Airline Operators retain the freedom to choose aircraft type, markets, and networks based on their commercial viability.
* **Action Required**: Airline Operators should be aware of their obligations under DGCA guidelines and the Passenger Charter.
**Passengers**
* **Impact**: Passengers are provided with awareness of their rights in case of various exigencies including flight delays, cancellations, denial of boarding due to over booking, refund issues, flight diversions, medical emergencies, lost/ delayed or damaged baggage etc.
* **Action Required**: Passengers are required to be aware of their rights provided under the Passenger Charter and how to lodge complaints using the AirSewa portal.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary government body responsible for civil aviation in India.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The aviation regulator in India.
Passenger Charter: A document detailing a passenger's rights and responsibilities while flying.
Air Corporations Act: An Act that was repealed in March 1994 leading to the deregulation of Indian domestic aviation.
AirSewa: An initiative by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for grievance redressal.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 998
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
DEPLOYMENT OF SUITABLE AIRCRAFT ON REGIONAL ROUTES
998. SMT KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Union Government is aware of the concerns raised by the State
Government of Tamil Nadu regarding the deployment of small ATR aircraft on intra-state
routes such as Chennai-Thoothukudi and Chennai-Tiruchirappalli despite high passenger
loads and if so, the response of the Union Government thereto;
(b) whether the Union Government proposes to direct or advise airline operators to deploy
larger and more suitable aircraft on high-demand regional routes and if so, the details
thereof; and
(c) the details of the steps taken by the Union Government to ensure that airlines maintain
adequate service standards?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (b): 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.
(c): The Passenger Charter is a comprehensive document about a passenger's rights and
responsibilities while flying by air. Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued the 'Passenger
Charter' in order to increase awareness among air travellers about their rights in case of
various exigencies including flight delays, cancellations, denial of boarding due to over
booking, refund issues, flight diversions, medical emergencies, lost/ delayed or damaged
baggage etc.
To ensure appropriate protection for air travellers due to flight delay/cancellation,
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Civil Aviation Requirement
(CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV titled "Facilities to be provided to passengers by
airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights."
Further, the AirSewa portal, an initiative by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)
enables grievance redressal in a time bound manner and provides a one-stop solution for
hassle-free air travel. It allows passengers to submit and track grievances related to
various stakeholders such as Airlines, Airports, Security, DGCA, Customs, Immigration,
BCAS, Helicopter Services under various grievance categories viz. Refunds,
Cancellations, Baggage Claim, Flight delay etc.
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