With More Airspace Opening Up For Commercial Use, Flying Will Become Cheaper In India

Domestic flights in India will become shorter and cheaper very soon. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has set in process the move to unlock the 70 per cent airspace within the country that is now reserved for military aircraft.

According to this report in The Telegraph, commercial aircraft now have to take circuitous routes to avoid the airspace reserved for military use. This results in longer flights, more fuel consumption and, thus, higher fares.

The ministry has set up an inter-ministerial panel with representatives from the aviation and defence ministries, the DGCA and the Airports Authority of India. The restriction of 705 of India's airspace for civilian aircraft also results in severe congestion over airports.

The move has assumed urgency since commercial airlines plan to add 650 more narrow and wide-bodied aircraft to the current domestic fleet of 450 aircraft over the next five years. There has been a 21 per cent growth in domestic air traffic last year and 24 per cent growth till August this year. At this rate, if more airspace is not available, congestion in the skies will assume unmanageable proportions.

The states most likely to benefit from this are Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and the north-eastern states. There are 78 operational airports for civilian use in the country and 30 more will be added to the list by the end of this year.