Date:26/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/26/stories/2005022602560400.htm

Back A case for bigger role for States in airports

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Feb. 25

THE Economic Survey 2004-05 has said that there is a case for a bigger role for the State in the airports sector especially as they have a `public goods' characteristic, even as it points to the major progress that has been made in the civil aviation sector during calendar year 2004.

The Survey states that domestic air traffic grew by 24.7 per cent during calendar 2004 over 2003.

The private sector airlines continued to dominate the domestic skies accounting for 61.1 per cent of the traffic. The major private sector airlines include Jet Airways, Air Sahara and the low-cost airline Air Deccan.

International traffic saw a growth of 18 per cent in calendar 2004 over 2003.

The Survey points to the various initiatives taken by the Government to ease the problems passengers face in travelling to and from India, including adopting a policy of a limited open skies for five months.

During the limited open skies period, international airlines put in requests for operating over 2,400 flights that offered close to additional five-lakh seats.

Besides, the Government also allowed domestic private sector airlines to operate regular flights to almost any part of the globe except the Gulf and West Asia.