Page 27 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AVIATION BUSINESS

Premier Air and Turbo Megha. of Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and the existing scheduled airlines.
Indian authorities have given the hubli and gradually scale up services Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi
flying permit to the Bengaluru-based Air to connect other southern cities of Raju recently said such moves were aimed
Pegasus, a regional airline promoted by Kochi, Chennai, Tuticorin, Belgaum and at promoting air travel to unconnected
ground-handling services provider Decor Rajahmundry. The airline plans to start destinations.
Aviation. pan-India operations in a year. Given the weakening operating
“We plan to start operations soon,” an India is a highly competitive market for environment, there are serious challenges
airline official says. air travel with two lost-cost airlines getting for a new airline in the country. As Dubey
Air Pegasus received a no-objection off the block in the last nine months. While said, “Some of the new airlines may prove
certificate from India’s Civil Aviation Tata Sons’ low-cost venture with AirAsia to be trailblazers, while others may simply
Ministry in 2012 but its flying plans were Berhad AirAsia India started services in fold up or get acquired by larger players.”
held up over problems in getting aircraft June 2014, Vistara - the new joint venture
on lease following the shutdown of between India’s Tata Sons and Singapore
Kingfisher Airlines. Airlines Ltd. - launched full-service
For now, Air Pegasus will commence operations in January this year.
operations with just one aircraft - the Investors have bolstered the country’s
72-seater ATR 72-500 leased from Elix aviation sector, hoping growth predictions
Aviation of Ireland. The airline has plans are solid.
to bring in another aircraft shortly and a The Civil Aviation Ministry has said at
third by June. least five new airlines are expected to fly
The company at present intends to the Indian skies this year. The huge growth potential
have a single aircraft-type “to keep down The Directorate General of Civil due to the country’s growing
middle class and low air
its maintenance and manpower costs,” Aviation (DGCA) is considering to allow travel penetration may have
the official of the new airline says. non-scheduled air operators and air been prompting foreign
The single ATR 72-500 aircraft will charter firms to convert to scheduled operators to enter the
initially connect the southern Indian cities operators to fly on routes untouched by market
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