First flight under RCS launched; minimum number of subsidised seats may be revised

Alliance Air launched the first flight under the RCS between Shimla and Delhi on April 27, 2017. A subsidised fare of Rs 2,036 was charged. According to reports, the flight will not be flown at full capacity. Besides, flight services from Hyderabad connecting Nanded in Maharashtra and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, to be operated by Trujet, were also flagged off on the same day. Meanwhile, the MoCA is planning to revise the minimum number of seats on which it will give subsidy to airline operators for serving Tier II and Tier III cities under the RCS. Currently, it is mandatory for airlines to offer 50 per cent of the total seats on an aircraft at discounted fares, and the number of discounted seats should be between nine and 40. The revised norms will be applicable for Phase II of the RCS, which is likely to commence by August 2017.