Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 03: A proposal seeking affordable air travel for islanders has received a positive response from the Civil Aviation authorities, with officials agreeing to examine a model that could make a limited number of flight seats available to islanders at substantially lower fares.
The proposal, discussed during a recent interaction with Civil Aviation officials, seeks the allocation of around 25 seats per flight for islanders at an affordable fare. Officials reportedly asked for the representation to be revised and strengthened, including the addition of certain points that were missing from the earlier submission.
The discussions focused not only on tourism but primarily on the difficulties faced by ordinary island residents who depend on air connectivity for travel to the mainland.
One of the key proposals is to make around 20–25 seats available at a passenger fare of ₹6,000, with an equal contribution of ₹6,000 from the administration, if the ticket can be secured at around ₹12,000. The proposal is aimed at creating a more affordable option for islanders while also providing airlines with assured occupancy.
During the interaction, officials reportedly stated that the administration’s present expenditure on certain air-travel arrangements can be significantly higher than previously understood, with one official indicating a figure of around ₹77,000 per ticket. The proposal argues that a structured subsidy-based model for regular passengers could be more economical while improving accessibility.
The proposal does not seek to eliminate emergency flights. It recognises that special flights may remain necessary during emergencies, but argues that a separate, sustainable mechanism is needed for regular passengers.
Supporters of the proposal believe that assured seats could also benefit airlines by providing a predictable level of occupancy. If a fixed number of seats are consistently filled, the arrangement could potentially improve operational viability and reduce the risk of cancellations.
The Civil Aviation authorities have reportedly sought statistics and additional information to examine the proposal. The positive response has encouraged the stakeholders to move towards the next stage of discussions.
A delegation representing different associations is now being proposed for a visit to New Delhi. The plan is to allow the authorities around 10-15 days to consider the matter, following which a delegation of around 10 members could travel to Delhi to meet the Union Civil Aviation Minister.
The delegation is expected to include one representative from each participating association and focus on the broader concerns surrounding air connectivity, including high airfares, reduced flight availability, cancellations and the need for affordable travel options for island residents.
Efforts are also proposed to secure an appointment with the Civil Aviation Minister through a TDP Member of Parliament, with local representatives expected to coordinate with Manik Rao regarding the meeting.
Stakeholders are expected to finalise the composition of the delegation shortly. Members have also been invited to put forward alternative suggestions before the plan is finalised.
The larger objective, stakeholders said, is to develop a sustainable air-connectivity mechanism that benefits islanders, airlines and the administration while ensuring that air travel remains accessible to the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
