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India's aviation
industry is the second largest in the
world. It has been witnessing a boom due to
exponential growth in the domestic passenger
carriage, cargo movement and international air
traffic. Airlines have carried nearly 32.172
million domestic passengers during the year
2006, as against 22.788 million during 2005,
thus showing a growth of 41 per cent. India's
new international status as IT and manufacturing
hub has led to the growth of international air
traffic.
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The aviation
sector can be subdivided into the airport
and airline industry. Sound airport infrastructure
is a vital component of the overall transportation
network and contributes directly to a country's
international competitiveness. It also encourages
flow of foreign capital into the economy. At
present, India has more than 455 airports/civil
enclaves and airstrips. These airports handled
about 73.33 million passengers during 2005-06,
registering an increase of 24 per cent over
2004-05, which is the highest ever, growth achieved.
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As
far as the airlines are concerned, there
are a number of companies, both public and private
sector, which are providing passenger transport
and cargo handling services in the country. In
the public sector, there are Air India, Indian
Airlines, Air India Charters Limited (Air India
Express) and Alliance air. In the private sector,
there are 7 scheduled airlines (passenger), namely,
Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Deccan Aviation,
Spice Jet, Kingfisher Airlines, Paramount Airways.
There is also a cargo private scheduled airline
called as the Blue Dart Aviation Ltd. Besides,
there are 46 companies, holding non-scheduled
air transport operators permit. |
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Further,
in order to increase international connectivity
and facilitate foreign travel for passengers,
India has entered into “Air Service Agreements
(ASA)” with around 100 countries. These
bilateral agreements provide the basic legal framework
for operation of air services between the two
contracting parties. The number of flights each
country can operate and the destinations that
could be served are also specified in these agreements.
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The Ministry
of Civil Aviation is the nodal authority responsible
for the formulation of national policies and
programmes for development and regulation of
the civil aviation industry in the country.
Its functions also extend to overseeing airport
facilities, air traffic services and carriage
of passengers and goods by air. Two separate
organizations under the Ministry monitor and
regulate the sector.
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