The ministry of civil aviation seems to be taking a more sympathetic view to regional air connectivity by possibly relaxing certain sectoral norms and granting an initial approval to six regional airlines. 

The ministry has given no-objection certificates, or NoCs, to Freedom Aviation and Air Pegasus to operate in the southern region, Captain GR Gopinath's Deccan Charters for the western region, and Indus Airways, KRC Group's Karina Airlines and financial services group Religare's venture ReligareAviation to fly in the northern region. 

The government is also reviewing its current policy of allowing regional airlines to connect only one metro route, according to a report in ET by Anindya Upadhyay.

"Most operators want to operate to more than one metro and it is not allowed so far. But it could be relaxed in the operators' favour. The CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) on regional airlines will see substantial changes," a ministry official said. 

A regional airline connects small cities in a region to a major metro of that region and does not connect to more than one metro city. 

The operators with the NoCs have to conform to all the norms and show their preparedness for regional flights in the next one and a half year before getting full approval, the official added. 

A comprehensive policy to promote regional airlines was laid down in 2007 but till date not a single such airline operates in the country. Strict regulations on fleet size and other conditions impeded regional air connectivity from taking off in India. 

But in March, the DGCA had proposed a few concessions for promoting regional airlines. According to the draft guidelines, any company that wants to commence regional air services needs to reach three aircraft fleet size within two years instead of the first year stipulated earlier. The operator can expand to a fleet of five aircraft by the end of five years, against the earlier deadline of two years. These concessions, if approved, will help interested players begin regional services.

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