New Delhi: The Union Government has asked all airlines to withdraw the congestion charge of Rs 150 latest by March 21, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told Parliament on Tuesday.
Replying to a question as to whether private airlines were charging this surcharge on sectors where there was no air traffic congestion, Patel told Rajya Sabha that most carriers had imposed the surcharge "on their entire network".
He said except for state-owned airline Indian, all private carriers have imposed the surcharge for the past few weeks and they have been told to give their response to directive of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation by Wednesday.
Replying to written questions, Patel said DGCA expects a shortage of around 500 pilots every year due to the growth in the industry. At present, there are 3,000 type-rated pilots in India, he said.
Patel also told Parliament that there are approximately 565 foreign pilots in the country at present, working with various airlines. To a related question, he said the DGCA does not suo motu grant or validate the commercial pilot licences of foreign pilots.
However, he said if airlines wish to deploy foreign pilots/instructors, such applications are considered by DGCA for validation subject to fulfillment of prescribed conditions.
In reply to another question whether India will need nearly 1,500 to 2,000 aircraft in the next 10 years, he said varying projections have been made in this regard.
Domestic and international passenger traffic grew at 46 per cent and 16 per cent respectively during 2006 and scheduled domestic passenger airlines are operating only 312 aircraft as on date, he added.
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