**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1135 in the Lok Sabha, addressed on February 5th, 2026, regarding regional air connectivity in Odisha. It details the steps taken by the government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to improve air connectivity, enhance aviation safety, and address the impact of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices on airfares. The document also highlights the use of a grievance redressal portal, AirSewa.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **DGCA Oversight and Safety Measures:**
* DGCA monitors aircraft induction, On-Time Performance (OTP), and route rationalization across the nation, including Odisha.
* A multi-layered oversight mechanism is in place to ensure airlines comply with safety standards during fleet expansion.
* Expansion activities like aircraft induction, increased flight operations, and leasing require DGCA approval after safety assessment.
* DGCA conducts audits, inspections, and surveillance of flight operations, airworthiness, training, safety management systems (SMS), and maintenance practices.
* The agency holds meetings with airline management to review operational performance, safety indicators, and compliance.
* Corrective actions, including show cause notices, operational restrictions, and financial penalties, are taken for deficiencies.
* **Airfare Regulations and Grievance Redressal:**
* Airfares are influenced by ATF costs, VAT, market competition, passenger demand, and seasonal variations.
* Airfares are determined by airlines based on market forces, as per the Aircraft Rules, 1937, Rule 135.
* The government intervenes in exceptional circumstances to prevent unreasonable pricing using tools such as fare caps.
* The AirSewa portal facilitates time-bound grievance redressal for passengers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Airlines**
* **Impact:** Subject to stringent DGCA oversight, requiring adherence to safety standards and obtaining approvals for expansion activities.
* **Action Required:** Comply with DGCA regulations and inspections, ensuring safety and operational compliance, and promptly address any deficiencies identified.
**Passengers**
* **Impact:** Benefits from improved safety oversight, potential intervention against unreasonable pricing, and a grievance redressal mechanism through the AirSewa portal.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the AirSewa portal to report grievances and avail themselves of the redressal mechanism for any issues encountered with air travel.
**State Governments (specifically Odisha)**
* **Impact:** Coordination with the Union Government on rationalizing ATF taxation to help with ensuring affordable and reliable air travel.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with the Union Government to address ATF taxation and improve air connectivity to enhance tourism and economic development in Odisha.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): Primary regulator for aviation safety and operations in India, responsible for oversight, audits, and enforcement.
Odisha: Indian state which is the primary location of focus for the Regional Air Connectivity discussed in the document.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The central government ministry responsible for civil aviation policies and initiatives.
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF): A key operational cost factor discussed in relation to airfares and government efforts to rationalise taxation.
Aircraft Rules, 1937: Regulatory framework that guides airline operations, with reference to market-based airfare determination.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1135
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
REGIONAL AIR CONNECTIVITY IN ODISHA
1135. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the progress in fleet integration and operational readiness including induction of
wide-body and narrow-body aircraft and the measures taken to ensure aircraft
availability, on-time performance and improved regional connectivity to Odisha
including districts serving Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency;
(b) the steps taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airline
operators to strengthen aviation safety oversight through audits, inspections, capacity
building and digital monitoring during sectoral expansion; and
(c) the impact of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price trends on airfares and the efforts
being made by the Union Government in coordination with the State Governments to
rationalise ATF taxation, safeguards against surge in pricing and improvements in
grievance redressal to ensure affordable, safe and reliable air travel for passengers from
Odisha including aspirational and tribal regions with potential for agri-eco-tourism
around Kandhamal?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
((a) & (b) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a robust mechanism
in place to monitor the induction of aircraft by airlines, On-Time Performance (OTP)
and route rationalisation across the nation including Odisha. Further, DGCA has put in
place a multi-layered oversight mechanism to ensure that safety standards are strictly
complied with by airlines, particularly during phases of rapid expansion in fleet size
and operations. All expansion activities, including induction of aircraft, increase in
flight operations, route expansion and wet/dry leasing, are subject to prior approval by
DGCA after detailed scrutiny of safety preparedness. DGCA conducts periodic and
special audits, inspections and surveillance activities covering flight operations,
airworthiness, training, safety management systems (SMS) and maintenance practices.
DGCA conduct meetings with airline management and key post-holders to review
operational performance, safety indicators, and manpower adequacy and compliance
status. In case of deficiencies, DGCA takes corrective and enforcement action,
including issuance of show cause notices, operational restrictions or suspension of
approvals and financial penalty, as necessary.(c): Airfares are influenced by multiple factors including Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)
costs, Value Added Tax levied on ATF by State/UT Governments, market competition,
passenger demand and seasonal variations. ATF prices are market-linked and form a
significant component of airline operating costs. In a deregulated aviation sector,
airfares are determined by airlines based on market forces, in accordance with Rule
135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
While the Government does not regulate airfares in normal circumstances to preserve
competition, it remains vigilant and intervenes in exceptional situations to prevent
unreasonable or opportunistic pricing, including through temporary fare caps or
capacity rationalisation, in the interest of passenger welfare.
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.
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