Aviation Ministry forms 3 advisory groups to settle challenges facing sector
Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has constituted three Consultative Group for Airline and Airport Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO).
Each of these will be chaired by the Minister of Civil Aviation, and will have government officials and relevant industry participants as members.
Kay Points:
- The Advisory Group will provide advice on ways to enhance domestic and international connectivity of the airlines, matters relating to passenger amenities during air travel and ways to safeguard the viability of airlines, etc.
- The Airports Group will provide advice on airport capacity enhancement, infrastructure enhancement and modernization, issues related to airport tariffs and capital expenditure (CAPEX) performance of airports, including targets under the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
- For maintenance, repair and restoration, the group will discuss measures to increase participation of Indian carriers in air cargo transportation and boost employment growth, etc.
- Indian Civil Aviation Industry is one of the fastest growing industries. It is to be noted that it is poised to become the third largest aviation industry globally in terms of air passengers by the year 2024.
- For FY 2021, COVID-19 has become a major disruption for the entire sector including movement of aircraft, air passenger and freight. This has led to negative growth in all of them.
Other recent initiatives for this sector
- Open Sky Services Agreement: This agreement has been signed to ensure equal opportunity for Indian Airlines.
- National Air Cargo Policy, 2019: This policy has been formulated to improve the efficiency and connectivity associated with air cargo.
- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) Scheme: Launched for setting up new airports or re-operation of non-serving airports.
- Promotion of private sector: 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been allowed in green field airport projects. In this, 49 percent FDI can be done through automatic route and more than this FDI can be done through government route.
- DISHA Project: This scheme has been launched by the Airports Authority of India to increase operational efficiency.
Source – PIB
