Jyotiraditya Scindia directs airlines to enhance their on-time performance

The Union Government on Tuesday (November 12) nudged airlines to enhance their On Time Performance (OTP). The Advisory Group meeting on this issue was chaired by none other than Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia.

India’s Aviation Minister asked major airlines like IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa to submit individual aircraft induction and deployment plans for the next six months.

In another suggestion, Scindia asked airlines to focus on point-to-point direct connectivity. Further, he suggested ramping up capacities with wide body and long-range narrow-body aircraft. Airports Authority of India (AAI), which functions under the ministry, was asked to relook at the technical specifications of VFR equipped (Visual Flight Rules) airports in order to enhance OTP of airlines.

Minister Scindia reviewed the self-monitoring mechanism on airfares and instructed to keep fares in check on select routes. The airlines were also instructed to increase international connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Ayodhya and Surat.

The meeting included representatives from all airlines, Minister General VK Singh, Minister of State (MoS) Vumlunmang Vualnam, and other senior officials.

In another meeting of the Advisory Group with Aerospace Manufacturers and MROs, discussions were held on operational and taxation challenges. Minister Scindia assured the attendees to relook at select taxation and regulatory issues and work towards greater financial viability.

Airbus, Boeing, Safran, Max Aerospace, GMR MRO, Bharat Forge, Tata Advanced Systems, RTX, HAL, AIESL, Pratt & Wittney, Air Works were all represented in the meet through their officials.