Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati on Thursday denied that he has ever said that small carriers would not be encouraged to fly on metro routes. According to an official statement issued by the civil aviation ministry, he was responding to a news item carried by the `Economic Times that said Raju had said that smaller carriers will not be encouraged to fly in the metro routes. The ET report further said that this stand was likely to impact the plans of operating carriers like Air Costa and some others waiting for flying permits. It said that the move is aimed at preventing oversupply of capacity at the metro routes. DGCA figures showed airlines have consistently added more capacity than there is demand for in the last few months. (ANI with inputs)
