| This is likely to spoil the expansion plans of all carriers, including private players like Kingfisher, Simplifly Deccan and Jet Airways. |
| The decision was taken in a meeting held among officials of the civil aviation ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, airport functionaries and the network planning executives of all major carriers last week. |
| "We have had no option but to juggle around our flight schedules because of this decision. I think in this case we are more or less in the same boat with other carriers," said Hitesh Patel, vice-president, Kingfisher Airlines. |
| Kingfisher has had to shelve its plans of 11 additional flights out of Mumbai to various other sectors including Delhi. |
| "We do not think this is fair. How are the airlines supposed to expand their operations if there are such constraints," asked a Simplifly Deccan executive. |
| Deccan, which is reworking its summer schedule after the meeting, might have to cut around five of its additional planned flights out of Mumbai. |
| Mumbai is not the only case in point. Airline executives said that operating to most metros will pose serious problems this summer. |
| "Flight induction to other metros too will be a problem. Other airports like Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata also expressed capacity constraints at the meeting," said Samyukth Sridharan, the chief commercial officer of SpiceJet. |
| Although, SpiceJet did not have a problem with Mumbai, it has shelved plans of 24 daily flights to various destinations in the country. |
| However, like last year, airlines have been allowed to re-apply for additional flights as and when they get delivery of new aircraft during the summer. |
| SpiceJet executives said the company will apply when it gets the first aircraft in the coming months. |
| According to industry sources, Jet Airways which had to cut several planned additional flights will also reapply as and when the three additional aircraft expected till August are delivered. |
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