DGCA asks airlines to deploy 6 per cent capacity in remote areas

NEW DELHI: The civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday notified the new regional air connectivity guidelines of the civil aviation ministry under the Civil Aviation Requirements.
As per the new regional air connectivity requirements, scheduled airlines will have to deploy at least 6 per cent of their total operating capacity to “remote or strategic areas” . The areas identified are North East region , with the exception of Guwahati and Bagdogra, all airports in Jammu & Kashmir with the exception of Jammu, all airports in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadeep.

Apart from this, airlines will also need to deploy 1 per cent of their total capacity on routes operated within the four regions identified by the civil aviation ministry. However, for the purpose of calculation of capacity deployed within the remote or strategic regions, operations to Guwahati , Bagdogra and Jammu will also be included.

The operating capacity will be calculated on the basis of available seat kilometres deployed in regions apart from the remote and strategic areas. Previously , remote and regional area connectivity was mandated under the Route Disbursal Guidelines (RDG).

The RDG mandated airlines to deploy a tenth of their capacity flying on trunk routes like Delhi-Mumbai to non-metro routes or Category II routes. The RDG was first notified in 1994.