Most UDAN flights cancelled last month, reveals DGCA data

Number of cancellations made July the month with maximum flight cancellations in 2018 so far

Airlines operating flights under Udey Desh ka Aam Nagarik (UDAN), a Central government scheme aimed at making air travel affordable, saw maximum cancellations in July. The number of cancellations made July the month with maximum flight cancellations in 2018 so far.

The airlines whose flights were cancelled had performed better in June and May. (Pic for representation/HT)

As per data available with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Zoom Air reported 100% cancellations since it did not operate any flights, Air Odisha and Air Deccan cancelled 94.23% and 87.50% of flights. DGCA report states overall cancellation rate of scheduled domestic airlines for the month to be 1.49 %. Among full service carriers, Air India topped with 2.84% flight cancellations while IndiGo reported least cancellation at 0.09% .

These airlines performed better in June and May this year as compared to July. In June, Air Deccan had 41.4%, Air Odisha had 32.14% and Zoom air had 15.56% flight cancellations. In May, Air Odisha’s 42.22% flights were cancelled, followed by Air Deccan with 12.24% cancellations and Zoom Air with 9.14% cancellations.

Koustav Dhar, chief executive officer of Zoom Air, said, “We did not operate in July. we are back in operation. We have received Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for the next three years. All our aircraft have undergone and completed major checks. We will begin bookings from September 2 after which our operations will begin in full swing.”

Air Deccan and Air Odisha remained unavailable for comment.

In Maharashtra, Air Deccan connects Pune to Nashik and Mumbai to Jalgaon, Kolhapur and Nashik. It’s other operations are from North east and Delhi. Air Odisha operates in Gujrat, South and North India.

The three airlines operate under the Udey Desh ka Aam Nagarik (UDAN), a government scheme aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread, where they were allocated slots for flight operations.

In the first phase of the UDAN scheme in March 2017, Air Odisha got permissions to operate 50 flights and Air Deccan 34. the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had issued notices asking them to commence operations, after the two airlines did not meet the commitments on the number of flights. These notices were issued in March.