Aviation Industry in India - Challenges for the Low Cost Carriers

Shashi Sharma*

Contents

I. Growth and Development of Aviation Industry in India……………1

A. Current Scenario…………………………………………………….1
B. Reforms in Regulation and Air Transportation in India…………….2
C. Applicability of International treaties and conventions……………..5
D. Eligibility for Scheduled Transport Passenger Services…………….7
E. Government Initiatives on Promotion of Aviation Industry………...9

II. Challenges for the Low Cost Carriers………………………………10

A. Current LCC Operations in India…………………………………...10

I. Growth and Development of Aviation Industry in India

A. Current Scenario

The liberalization of aviation industry in India has precipitated the boom for

domestic and international passenger carriers. The domestic passenger and cargo traffic

recorded a growth rate of 44.6% and 8.7%, and the international passenger and cargo

traffic recorded growth rates of 15.8% and 13.8% respectively during 2006-07 1 . The

Airport Authority of India (AAI) manages total 122 airports in the country, which include

11 international airports, 94 domestic airports and 28 civil enclaves. Top 5 airports in the

country handle 70% of the passenger traffic of which Delhi and Mumbai together account

for more than 50%. The latest data compiled by Airports Authority of India (AAI) shows

that all the airports handled 90.44 million passengers during the calendar year 2006

*LL.M., American University, Washington College of Law, Washington D.C.,

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compared with 67.95 million handled during the same period in the previous year2. The

substantial growth of Indian aviation industry is mostly due to: (i) low fares offered by

Low Cost Carriers (LCC) like Deccan, Spicejet, GoAir etc; and (ii) Scheduled domestic

air services are now available from 75 airports as against just 50 earlier.

B. Reforms in Regulations and Air Transportation in India

Prior to 1953, there were 9 private airlines in operation with too many surplus

aircraft and the airline industry was sick. There was no competitive environment in the

monopolized aviation market. The air transportation operations in India are governed

under The Aircraft Act, 19343, The Aircraft Rules, 19374, The Air Corporation Act, 1953,

The Air Corporation Act, 19535, The International Airports Authority Act, 19716, The

Carriage by Air Act, 19727, The Tokyo Convention Act, 19758, The Anti-Hijacking Act,

19829, The National Airports Authority Act, 198510, The Airports Authority of India Act,

199411, The Air Corporations (Transfer of Undertakings and Repeal) Act, 199412.

2
Ashwini Phadnis, 33% growth in air passenger traffic: AAI data, Business Line, March 23, 2007,
available at http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/23/stories/2007032306470700.htm (last visited
March 25, 2007). During January-December 2006, the domestic passenger traffic stood at 65.69 million,
registering a growth of close to 42 per cent over the previous 12-month period. Among the airports that
recorded high growth rates in passenger traffic right through the year include Coimbatore, Hyderabad,
Chennai and Bangalore. In December 2006, the airports handled 9.48 million passengers including 6.93
million domestic and 2.54 million international passengers, whereas during the same month in the
preceding year it was 7.24 million passengers including 4.99 million domestic and 2.25 million
international passengers.
3
Act provides for provisions on the control of the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and
export of aircraft.
4
The rules for the implementation of provisions under the Aircraft Act, 1934
5
The Act nationalized all the private airlines and created national carriers: Air India and Indian Airlines, to
cater to the needs of international and domestic air traffic.
6
Enacted to provide for constitution of International Airports Authority of India (IAAI) for management of
certain airports whereat international air transport services are operated.
7
Enacted to give effect to the Warsaw convention on unification of certain rules relating to international
carriage by air, as amended by the Hague Protocol, 1955 and also to make provision for applying the rules
contained therein on international carriage by air and for matters connected therewith.
8
Enacted to give effect to the convention signed at Tokyo on offences and certain other acts committed on
board aircraft.
9
Enacted to provide effect to the Convention on Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft and matters
connected therewith.

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 The first step towards liberalization was as early as in 1986 when private airlines

were allowed to operate charter and non-scheduled services to all authorized airports

under the Air Taxi Scheme and were also permitted to decide their fares and flight

schedules. A major move towards liberalization was in the early 1990s when India

implemented an open sky policy for cargo which allowed international airlines to operate

cargo flights without restrictions and to charge rate without reference to Director General

of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Under this policy, any foreign domestic airline or association

of exporters or private operator’s could bring freight carriers to India for lifting cargo

from any airport. However, there still remain restrictions on cabotage as international

airlines are not allowed to carry domestic cargo on their flights within the country.

The next major step was the termination of the state monopoly over scheduled air

transport services with the enactment of the Air Corporation (Transfer of Undertaking

and Repeal) Act, 1994. The main reasons for the deregulation were the decline in

profitability of Air India and Indian Airlines owing to organizational and managerial

inefficiencies and that the capacity of the national carriers was not enough to meet

growing passenger demand. With the enactment of the 1994 Act, private operators were

allowed to operate both scheduled and non-scheduled services in the domestic sector and

there were no major restrictions on aircraft size and type. However, in order to ensure

safety, security and orderly growth of air transport services and keeping in view the

10
Enacted to provide for establishment of National Airports Authority of India (NAAI) for management of
airports and civil enclaves whereat air transport services and all communication stations connected
therewith.
11
Enacted for the constitution of Airport Authority of India (AAI) and for transfer and vesting of the
undertakings of the IAAI and NAAI for better administration and co-ordinated management of airports and
civil enclaves whereat air transport services are operated.
12
Air Corporation Act was repealed in March 1994 with the enactment of this act with objectives to: (i)
remove monopoly of air corporations on scheduled services, (ii) enable private airlines to operate scheduled
service, (iii) convert Indian Airlines and Air India to limited liability companies, (iv) enable private
participation in national carriers.

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infrastructural constraints at a number of airports, the government permitted the addition

to capacity based on traffic projections. To support the growth of the airline industry the

Government in 1994-95 permitted direct import of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) under the

special import license scheme. In 1997-98, the privatization policy was further liberalized

and foreign equity participation of up to 40 per cent (100 percent in case of non-resident

Indians) was allowed in the domestic airline sector. Foreign airlines are, however, not

allowed to pick up the equity, directly or indirectly.

The air transportation services in India are controlled by DGCA, operating under

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA). DGCA, under the provisions of Rule 134 of the

Aircraft Rules, 1937, grants permission to persons to operate an air transport service to,

within and from India. The DGCA rules governing issuance of permits for air transport

services are prescribed under: (i) Scheduled Air Transport Services (Passenger) (Civil

Aviation Requirements Section 3 Series 'C' Part II); (ii) Non- Scheduled Air Transport

Services (Passenger) (Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3 Series 'C' Part III); (iii) Air

Transport Services (Cargo) (Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3 Series 'C' Part IV);

Non-Scheduled Air Transport Services (Charter Operation) (Civil Aviation Requirements

Section 3 Series 'C' Part V). The permits issued by DGCA are equivalent to the Air

Operator's Certificate (AOC) required to be granted by ICAO member States in

accordance with the provisions stated in Annex 6 of the rules. Permits for any other

special type of operation can be granted subject to the applicant showing satisfactory

capability to undertake the type of operations.

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 DGCA also decides on matters relating to: (i) commencement of Scheduled

International Air Services by a Foreign Airline13; (ii) import of Aircraft on Short term on

wet lease basis 14 ; Open Sky Policy for Cargo Flights to India 15 ; (iii) foreign Equity

Participation in the Domestic Transport Sector16. The MCA creates enabling provisions

for DGCA to sign agreements for technical and managerial expertise in civil aviation

sector in the areas relating to: (i) providing technical and managerial expertise in

developing, improving and operation of civil aviation infrastructure, standards,

procedures, policies, training and equipment; (ii) co-operation in a range of aviation

safety areas; (iii) Providing training for civil aviation personnel; (iv) inspection and

calibration of our civil aviation equipment and air navigation facility; (v) assistance in

aircraft certification in India; (vi) assistance in the field of helicopter operational safety

initiative.

C. Applicability of International Conventions and Agreements

The international conventions governing air transportation to which India is a

signatory include: The Chicago Convention, 1944; International Air Services Transit

Agreement, 1944, International Air Transport Agreement, 1944; The Warsaw Convention,

1929; The Guatemala City Protocol, 1971; The Additional Protocol No. 1, 1975; The

Additional Protocol No. 2, 1975; The Additional Protocol No. 3, 1975; The Guadalajara

Convention, 1961; The Geneva Convention, 1948; The Rome Convention, 1952; The

13
Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 3 of 2000
14
AIC 3 of 1998
15
AIC 18 of 1992
16
AIC 4 of 2004

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Tokyo Convention, 1963; The Hague Convention, 1970; The Montreal Convention, 1971;

The Montreal Convention, 1999; The Cape Town Convention, 2001.

To increase connectivity between India and other countries and facilitate travel

for passengers, India has entered into Air Service Agreements (ASA) with 100 countries

till date. 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.

The traffic rights available under an ASA could be utilized by the airlines designated by

respective Governments 17 . The ‘Open Sky Policy’ with US replaces an antiquated

agreement signed in 1956 that placed restrictions on services between the two countries,

including limits on cities that could be served and restrictions on pricing. The Open Skies

agreement provides for open routes, capacity, frequencies, designations, and pricing, as

well as opportunities for cooperative marketing arrangements, including bilateral code-

sharing with domestic Indian carriers. The deal also allows all-cargo carriers to operate in

either country without directly connecting to their homeland 18 . India’s ATA with US

provides for unlimited frequency and unlimited seat limit to the operating airlines of US:

Delta and Northwest, and Air India.19

India and US have entered into Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP)20 whereby a

public-private partnership has been established to provide a forum for unified

17
Ministry of Civil aviation: International Air Services, available at, http://civilaviation.nic.in/,
(last visited May 6, 2007)
18
U.S. Department of State: United States, India Sign Open Skies Aviation Agreement, available at,
http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/rls/prsrl/2005/44623.htm, (last visited May 8, 2007)
19
Government of India, Directorate of Civil Aviation, Bilateral Service Agreements, Technical Centre,
New Delhi, available at http://www.dgca.nic.in/bilateral/Bilateral.pdf (last visited April 17, 2007)
20
US Embassy news, New Delhi: U.S.-INDIA Aviation Partnership Summit Opens --USTDA Launches
U.S.-India Aviation Cooperation Program to Support India’s Civil Aviation Priorities, April 23, 2007,
available at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/pr042307.html

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LL.M candidate May 2007
communication between the Government of India and U.S. public and private sector

entities in India. The ACP is designed to work directly with the Indian Government to

identify and support India’s civil aviation sector modernization priorities. The specific

objectives of ACP are to: (i) promote enhanced safety, operational efficiency and system

capacity in the Indian aviation sector; (ii) facilitate and coordinate aviation industry

training and technical ties between the U.S. and India; and (iii) strengthen overall U.S.-

India aviation cooperation. USTDA is providing funding for training and technical

assistance programs and the FAA and U.S. aviation companies are providing in-kind

support and co-operation in matters relating to promotion of aviation industry21.

D. Eligibility for Scheduled Passenger Transport Services

The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), Section 3, Air Transport, Series C, Part

II, prescribes the minimum requirements for grant of permit to operate scheduled

passenger transport services. Scheduled Operator’s Permit is granted only to: (i) a citizen

of India; or (ii) a Company or Corporate, provided that (a) it is registered and has its

principal place of business within India, (b) its chairman and atleast two-thirds of its

directors are citizens of India; and (c) its substantial ownership and effective control is

vested in Indian national.

The applicant is required to apply for an initial No-Objection Certificate (NOC)

with the MCA after obtaining approval from Foreign Investment Promotion Board

(FIPB), if foreign investment is envisaged and security clearance of Directors and

Chairman of the firm is essential. Foreign equity in air transportation services is

permitted upto 49%. Non Resident Indian (NRI) / Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is

21
US, India sign aviation pact, Deccan Herald, April 24, 2007, available at,
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr242007/national231082007423.asp

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permitted to invest upto 100% in domestic air transport services; (iii) equity from foreign

airlines is not allowed in domestic air transport services. The operator is required to

intimate any change in the Board of Directors / Chairman / CEO at any time to the

Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA alongwith details of new Chairman or Director.

Any changes in the name, management and matters relating to mergers and acquisitions

are required to be carried out only after obtaining approval from DGCA. The MCA

grants approval for purchase of aircraft. The operator is required to provide all details of

the pilots and engineers recruited by them and also required to impart training as per

program approved by DGCA22.

In a move to keep small players at bay and discourage new entrants to an

overcrowded market, the civil aviation ministry has raised the minimum equity capital

requirement for carriers to start or continue operations23. A notification from the ministry

has raised the minimum equity capital requirement for a five-fleet carrier that wants to fly

Airbuses and Boeings (or aircraft above 40,000 kg weight) from Rs 30 crore to Rs 50

crore. There is also an equity requirement of Rs 20 crore for addition of every five

aircraft to the existing fleet. For carriers operating smaller aircraft like the Dornier (less

than 40,000 kg), the government has doubled the minimum equity capital requirement

from Rs 10 crore to Rs 20 crore (for a fleet of five aircraft). For addition of every five

aircraft, these airlines will have to infuse equity capital of Rs 10 crore. Existing carriers

have been given a year to abide by the new rules. MCA has put an overall limit of Rs 100

crore as total equity capital. The move will affect over half a dozen carriers which have

22
DGCA: Air Operators Certification and Requirements, available at, http://www.dgca.nic.in/rules/car-
ind.htm , (last visited May 7, 2007)
23
Rediff News: Aviation: How the government keeps small players away, March 30, 2007, available at
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/mar/30air.htm (last accessed April 8, 2007)

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applied for fresh licenses to operate scheduled airlines -- like Easy Air, Air One, Yamuna

Airways etc. Most of these carriers have proposals in which their equity capital is much

lower than the stipulated Rs 50 crore. The government has also withdrawn the concession

available to scheduled airline operators to have only 10 per cent of the paid-up capital

when the initial Non Objection Certificate (NOC) is issued, another step to get small

operators keep away from the business. During the year 2006, Jet Airways finally got

clearance from the United States authorities for launching flights between India and US.

The airline's plans for operating to the US had been pending with US authorities as issues

had been raised about the funding of Jet Airways.

E. Government Initiatives on Promotion of Aviation Industry

The significant steps taken by the Indian government on liberalization of Indian

aviation industry include 24 : (i) The Foreign Direct Investment limit in Air Transport

Services (Domestic Airlines) has been increased from 40% to 49% and is soon expected

to be increased further. However, the NRI`s and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) have

been allowed 100% FDI; (ii) Private scheduled carriers with five years experience in

domestic sector and having fleet size of twenty aircraft permitted to operate on

international routes; (iii) Liberal policy in the exchange of capacity entitlement /

traffic rights paved the way for more foreign airlines to operate to / from India; (iv)

Amendment of the various outdated provisions of Aircraft Rules to keep the

provisions abreast with the international standards and developments in the civil

aviation sector; (v) Tourist charter guidelines liberalized; (vi) Fleet expansion plans of

Air India/Indian Airlines approved; (vii) Restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai airport and

24
Ministry of Civil Aviation: Regulatory Issues: available at
http://civilaviation.nic.in/jdg_pres.PPT#284,1,Airline Operations Regulatory Issues in India (last visited
May 7, 2007)

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work on development of Greenfield airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad undertaken25;

(vii) Up gradation/ expansion/ development of airports undertaken depending upon

traffic potential, requirement of airline operators and need of air passengers.

During the last three years two of the existing private scheduled domestic

operators Jet Airways and Air Sahara were permitted to operate to foreign destinations26

and six new airlines were permitted to start operations in the domestic sector: Kingfisher,

Spicejet, Go-Air, Paramount, Indigo and Indus. The Indian government decided to merge

Air India and Indian Airlines to improve operational efficiency27. The new entrants have

cornered 44% of Indian aviation market and made considerable dent in the market share

of erstwhile operators: Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Sahara airlines, and LCC’s

constitute 34% of market28.

II. Challenges for Low Cost Carriers (LCC)

A. Current LCC Operations in India

The LCC boom in India started with Low Price Tags, Apex Fares, Internet

Auctions, Bulk Purchases and Last Day Fares. The factors that contributed to enormous

growth of LCCs are: (i) Low Entry barrier; (ii) Attraction of Foreign Shores; (iii)

Increased permitted Foreign Equity; and (iv) Rising income levels and demographic

profile, have contributed significantly to the unprecedented growth of LCC’s in India.

India has a population of 1.1 billion of which the middle income group constitutes around

25
Ministry of Civil Aviation: Greenfield Airport, available at, http://civilaviation.nic.in/bial.htm, (last
visited May 7, 2007)
26
Business Line, Local airlines to spread wings globally:Jet Air to start service between Bangalore and
London, March 13, 2007, available at http://www.blonnet.com/2007/03/13/stories/2007031303361000.htm,
(last accessed March 24, 2007)
27
Rediff News: Cabinet nods Air India, Indian merger, March 1, 2007, available at
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/mar/01ai.htm (last visited March 17, 2007)
28
Rediff News: New entrants corner 44% of aviation market, February 22, 2007, available at
http://www.rediff.com///money/2007/feb/22avi.htm (last accessed March 7, 2007)

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LL.M candidate May 2007
400 million, which is more than the population of USA and that of EU countries. 15

million people travel by train of which around 700,000 people travel in air condition (AC)

coaches. There does not exist much price difference between travel by AC and travel by

LCC. Within 3 years of operations in India, LCC’s have taken the domestic market share

of 49% and the factors contributing for such unprecedented market capitalization are: (i)

Highest load efficiency; (ii) Flies to destinations in the Hinterland; (iii) A Lean-and-Mean

approach to staffing; (iv) Expansion of operations to Sri Lanka; (v) Successfully targeted

the increasing middle class population of India. The growth of LCCs in India could be

attributed to the recent reforms in Indian aviation industry and also the instantaneous

acceptance of air travel when it was provided at rail travel rates.

B. Challenges for LCC’s in Indian Aviation Market

The challenges facing LCC are: (i) crippling oil shock; (ii) absence of Institutional

Funding; (iii) acute shortage of trained Pilots, severely limiting growth prospects; (iv)

unplanned location of Airports; (v) competition amongst the LCC’s; (vi) image plagued

by frequent breakdowns and freak accidents; (vii) LCC’s already reached the threshold of

cost efficiency; (viii) limited advertising. The aviation industry loses approximately Rs

2000 crores annually due to underpricing of tickets and increasing fuel costs29.

29
Business Line: Air Deccan cool on low fares: Downward pressure seen with more aircraft to fly in,
March 14, 2007, available at http://www.blonnet.com/2007/03/14/stories/2007031400740700.htm (last
accessed March 27, 2007)

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LL.M candidate May 2007