Madhya Pradesh HC Orally Questions Air India, Indigo For Lack Of Connectivity To Jabalpur In PIL For Increasing Flights To The City

While hearing a PIL for increasing flights to Jabalpur, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday (December 17) orally questioned Air India that if it has a short flight commuting from Delhi to Chandigarh then why cant there be a flight to Jabalpur, emphasizing on increasing the connectivity on this route noting the demand. During the hearing the court also orally questioned Indigo airlines for its limited flight operations in Jabalpur noting it has "maximum network in India, especially small places" asking it to take responsibility for this sector as well. A division bench of Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain after hearing the matter for some sought the response of the respondents who have not filed their replies to the PIL until now. "Those respondents who have not filed reply to the petition shall file reply within two weeks, failing which same shall be accepted with cost of Rs.25,000/- each to be deposited with M.P. High Court Legal Services Authority," the court said. The respondents in the matter include Union of India, Director General of Civil Aviation, Airport Director of Dumna airport (Jabalpur), Air India, Indigo, Spice Jet and Akasa airlines. The PIL filed by Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch–an organization that focuses on social activism–states that Jabalpur has three defence factories, five universities, world-famous pilgrim centres like Bhedaghat, three national parks and the principal seat of the High Court. Despite the city's economic and strategic importance and even after extending and developing the airport by spending almost Rs 500 crores, most of the existing flights have been discontinued instead of providing additional air routes, the petitioner has said. According to the petitioner, new flight routes are periodically introduced from cities like Indore, Bhopal and Gwalior whereas the Jabalpur Airport is conveniently ignored by authorities. During the hearing on Tuesday, the counsel appearing for Indigo Airlines submitted, “In this matter, respondents were granted time to seek instructions. I appear for respondent number 6, I have some instructions. This is a PIL filed against the private airlines. I am representing Indigo in this. This is regarding…to increase the number of flights and for better connectivity to Jabalpur. we have filed a reply opposing this petition. My lords directed us on 14-11-2024.”On the court's query Indigo's counsel said that he had sought instructions as per which it is not commercially viable for Indigo to operate more frequently.To this the court however orally said, “If on the last moment if you book a ticket you are charging 20,000-25,000. That's why it is not viable. Then we will pass the direction that you will not cross the cap". The counsel however responded by saying that Indigo was operating one flight to Jabalpur as compared to other airlines who are not operating even single flight to Jabalpur.The court however orally said, “You have the maximum network in India. Especially small places everywhere Indigo, everywhere Indigo. Why don't you take the responsibility of this one?”As the counsel said that Indigo is operating one flight the court orally remarked, “So then you leave, we will give this sector to the other airlines. If it is not commercially viable. So remove your Indigo from Madhya Pradesh...” The counsel contended that it is was not viable for the airline to have more flights to Jabalpur. The court then said, “More flights the other airlines will provide…”At this stage the counsel appearing for Air India said, “I am for Air India. I don't have any operations. And the problem is that I only have the big aircrafts. So airlines like Air India Express would be in a better position to operate or may be Akasa or Spice Jet". Thereafter counsel appearing for Akasa Airlines made his submissions and said that Akasa Air had conducted a feasibility study as per which as of now operating flights to Jabalpur was not feasible. He said, "There are route dispersal guidelines of the Union of India which categorizes airports and routes into three categories. Category one is all the metro routes. Category two is the North-east and Andaman's. And category three is the remaining. Respectfully, my lord, the metro routes you are is free to operate how many ever aircrafts on that. But category two at least nine percent should be deployed and category three thirty-five percent. Gwalior is one such category three route. And our Akasa Air does fly to Gwalior. And we are compliant with the route dispersal guidelines issued by the Union Government. The remaining factor is a commercial factor. It depends on various things such as the tax on aviation turbine fuel, the load factor, connectivity with other airports and various other factors such as this and also the airport fees. The user development fee charged by the airport. Jabalpur charges roughly 750 rupees. Delhi charges 61. Bombay charges NIL. So as my colleague for Air India submitted they...

Madhya Pradesh HC Orally Questions Air India, Indigo For Lack Of Connectivity To Jabalpur In PIL For Increasing Flights To The City

Anukriti Mishra

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