DGCA notifies permit norms for regional airlines

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday notified a separate category of permit for regional airlines operators. The new policy on regional airlines would be applicable for both fixed wing and helicopter operators.

An airline operating under this category would undertake operations in their designated region — north, south, west and east/north east. Regional airlines would not be permitted to operate on category-I routes of the route dispersal guidelines.

According to the notification, airlines would be allowed to operate flights from airports in their designated region to all airports in any other region except the metro airports of the other region. However, regional airlines in the south region would be allowed to operate in the three metros, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

The regional airlines will have to acquire three aircraft within one year and five at the end of two years. The start-up capital of the regional carrier with three aircraft having take-off mass above 40,000 kg will be Rs 30 crore.

“Each additional aircraft will require Rs 10 crore subject to a maximum of Rs 50 crore beyond which no further equity will be required. Airlines with take-off mass below 40,000 kg will be required Rs 12 crore as paid-up capital, the notification said.