The civil aviation ministry may allow scheduled domestic carriers to code-share with non-scheduled airlines in the north eastern states such as Assam, Manipur and Nagaland to improve air connectivity in the region. A core group under the ministry would finalise the modalities of such pact this week.
A code-share pact allows airlines to cross-sell each others? tickets and share their infrastructure.
?A final decision on the issue would be taken shortly in consultation with DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation),? a senior official in the ministry said.
An executive of a private airline said that the move would not help much as code-share with non-scheduled carriers would carry a lot more liability.
?In case non-scheduled airline cancels its flight or there is loss of baggage, we may have to share the cost of compensation to passengers,? the executive said.
Civil aviation secretary MM Nambiar on Friday called a meeting of all the scheduled carriers, including Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet, and asked them to add flights to far flung areas especially union territories like Lakshadweep and Port Blair.
The present route dispersal guideline requires all the scheduled airlines in the country to deploy 10% of the total capacity on trunk routes (category I routes) on category II sectors, such as Guwahati and Bagdogra and 1% of the capacity deployed on category I routes on category IIA routes such as Lakshadweep (Agatti) and Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar.
The government has decided to take several measures, including extension of watch hours at some of the airports in the north-east region. It is also considering a demand of the eastern states to start direct flights to the region from Delhi and Mumbai.
?New airports are also coming up in the region which would further improve connectivity. A dedicated airline for the North East is also in the pipeline,? the government official said.