The MoCA has announced a new route between Nashik (Maharashtra) and Belgaum (Karnataka) under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). Operationalising the route will expand the aerial connectivity of Belgaum to 10 destinations across India. According to the ministry, Star Air was awarded the Belgaum-Nashik route during the UDAN-3 bidding process. Till date, 311 routes have been operationalised under the UDAN scheme.
According to the International Air Transport Association, passenger traffic at airports in Tier-2 and 3 cities of the country has crossed pre-Covid levels. While the global passenger traffic is expected to come to pre-pandemic level only in 2024, the air cargo traffic is expected to reach the pre-Covid level by March 2021. Also, global air cargo demand decreased by 10.6 per cent in 2020 as compared to 2019. Further, airlines are expected to get one-third of the revenues from air cargo this year, as compared to 12 per cent in 2019.