Include Surat airport under national civil aviation policy, demands Paatil

Surat: Member of the consultative committee for Ministry of Civil Aviation and Navsari MP, CR Paatil, has sought inclusion of Surat airport under the National Civil Aviation policy floated by the Central Government to cap fares at Rs 2,500 per passengers for a one-hour flight.
The civil aviation ministry, in its internal meetings, has given a go-ahead to the proposed regional connectivity scheme.Through this scheme, a fund will be formed by levying a 2% cess on all domestic and international tickets from next year to fund the losses of airlines flying on regional routes. However, this was on the condition that airlines charge passengers Rs 2,500 for an hour's flight on regional routes falling under the scheme.
"I have strongly represented in the consultative committee meeting held recently at Delhi to include Surat among the select regional routes where the passengers would be charged Rs 2,500 for an hour's flight. If this is accepted, then the passengers travelling from Surat to Mumbai will have to pay the fare fixed under the policy," said Paatil.
He informed that after the success of the evening Airbus operations between Surat and Delhi, the Air India (AI) may plan to introduce Airbus for the morning flight on the same route in the next couple of months.
At present, AI operates a 68-seater CRJ aircraft on the Delhi-Surat route in the morning hours. From February 1, the AI increased the morning flight's frequency from four days to seven days a week.
Paatil said,"The AI is planning to introduce a brand new Airbus on the Surat-Delhi sector. The new planes will arrive in the next two to three months."
The AI is also planning to operate flight between Surat and Mumbai on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. At present, the AI operates on Mumbai-Surat sector on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.