New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) Despite safety measures in place, airports continue to be vulnerable to bird hits, with 241 such incidents occurring till date this year causing financial losses of at least Rs.7 crore to airline operators, the government said Wednesday.

The National Bird Control Committee (NBCC), a body to address the serious safety issues of bird hits resulting in aircraft accidents, has said such incidents have been increasing over the years.

'In 2006, 167 bird strikes were reported, in 2007, 217 and in 2008, 304. This year till October, 241 bird strikes have been reported to the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation),' the civil aviation ministry said in a statement.

In 2008, till October, there were 277 bird hits.

This year, Air India has reported 24 bird hits, Jet Airways 49, Kingfisher Airlines 60, Indigo 27, SpiceJet 30, Paramount one, GoAir seven, various international carriers 34, and other aircraft six, the aviation ministry said.

SpiceJet has suffered financial losses of Rs.5.57 crore on account of bird hits, while Jet Airways has lost Rs.8.91 lakh, Indigo Rs.87 lakh, and GoAir Rs.45.6 lakh.

'Figures from Air India and Kingfisher Airlines are not currently available,' the statement said.

The government has also made it mandatory for airline operators to report bird hits to the DGCA.

The regulator has identified the Ahmedabad airport as 'critical'. Other vulnerable airports are Delhi, Mumbai and Nagpur.

The aviation ministry set up NBCC in June on the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN agency that codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation.

The government has also allowed imposing of a fine of Rs.1 lakh or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both for leaving animal carcass that attracts birds in and around an airport.