NEW DELHI: The government wants at least three subsidised flights a week at underserved airports as part of the regional connectivity scheme aimed at boosting air travel. This had been announced as a key element of the civil aviation policy unveiled by the government on June 15 as it looks to enable 350 million more Indians to fly every year."The airline providing regional flights will have to connect underserved airports with minimum three flights a week and maximum seven flights a week. Anything beyond that will not fetch any subsidy," said aviation secretary RN Choubey.Under the draft regional connectivity scheme, which will run for a period of 10 years, the government will provide seats at a regulated fare of Rs 2,500 per hour of flying (estimated at 500 km) and fund the rest of the cost through a subsidy. Regional connectivity through helicopters will be capped at Rs 2,500 per half an hour flight . The government plans to immediately connect about 30 airports in the country that have adequate infrastructure but no flights at present.Not all seats in the flight will be subsidised, though. "Smaller aircraft with 13 seats will have nine seats under subsidy and 80-seater aircraft will have 40 seats under subsidy," said Choubey. The airline operating regional flights will be allowed to sell the rest of the seats at market price. "We will not regulate fares on the seats without subsidy," said Choubey.According to the scheme announced Friday by the civil aviation ministry, regional flights will be incentivised through tax breaks by both the Centre as well as states. ET had reported about this first on November 4, 2015.“The central government will provide concessions through 2% excise on jet fuel and service tax at one-tenth the rate. The airlines will also be provided liberal code sharing for RCS airports,” said Choubey.The state governments will have to provide free security and fire services, utilities at concessional rates and reduce valued added tax (VAT) on jet fuel to 1% as much as from 4% currently. Over and above this, the state governments will have to chip in with their share of the subsidy—20% of the total subsidy being provided to the respective state. This is 10% for northeastern states. While the fares will be fixed at Rs 2,500 per hour-long flight, the subsidy amount will keep changing depending on inflation and crude oil prices and be reviewed every quarter.The scheme will run for a period of 10 years but no route will get any subsidy after the completion of three consecutive years. “After a three-year period, that particular route will have to wait for another two years without subsidy to be eligible for subsidy,” said Choubey.The airlines providing regional connectivity can start with a fleet of one aircraft and will have to increase it to three in one year. Non-scheduled operators will have to convert themselves to scheduled operators to launch flights.