Two New Airlines In DGCA's Final Certification Stage, Eyeing Regional Connectivity Scheme Routes: Report

India is set to get two new air operators as they are in the final stages of certification by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), reports Hindustan Times.

According to the report, once the new air operators are certified by the DGCA, they are likely to commence their operations on the regional routes only.

The development comes as the government is focusing on regional connectivity scheme (RCS) under its Udey Desh ka Aam Naagarik (UDAN) initiative, which was announced in 2016 to make air travel affordable and connect tier II and tier III cities.

The two new airlines that applied for the DGCA certification are Indian and are expected to be able to their operations soon, according to ministry sources quoted in the report.

“Two scheduled commuter airlines, Big Charter and Aviation Connectivity, are in the final certification stage," A senior ministry official was quoted as saying.

The official added that these airlines are eyeing the RCS routes.

According to the report, Director General of DGCA Arun Kumar confirmed that flying permissions have been given to two airlines.

The airlines will reportedly use ATR 72 aircraft and other small aircraft for their flight operations on the RCS routes.

It should be noted that first flight under the RCS-UDAN scheme took off in April 2017. Since then, 271 routes have commenced their UDAN flight operations.