As many as 22 operational airports owned and managed by Airports Authority of India in the country do not have scheduled flight operations. However, most of these airports are used for general aviation purposes and handle non-scheduled and training flights, the Lok Sabha was informed.

Union minister Jayant Sinha also said that flight operations in the domestic sector have been deregulated and the airlines are free to operate anywhere in the country subject to Route Dispersal Guidelines (RDGs) issued by the government.

The airline operators provide air services to specific places depending upon the traffic demand, commercial viability and their company policy. However, the government of India has launched regional Connectivity Scheme under National Civil Aviation Folicy, 2016 which envisages revival of unserved and underserved airports in the country in order to promote balanced regional growth, The scheme is demand driven.

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