20.3.09

Regional airlines snippets

Half-a-dozen new regional airlines are expected to start operations this year, despite a majority of the existing companies recording a combined loss of over Rs 10,000 crore. Star Aviation, Zav Airways, King Airways, Sky King Aviation, Premier Airways and a cargo carrier have received permission to import aircraft and start operations in the country. Chennai-based Star Aviation, promoted by Dubai-based real estate company ETA Star, is likely to be the first to fly. It will start operations in June with three Embraer 72-seater aircraft initially and provide connectivity to tier-II cities, mostly in south India. The airline will have a 10-aircraft fleet strength and will invest $300 million in the next 18 months. Star Aviation plans to connect Hyderabad, Madurai, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore and Kochi with Chennai, the airlines spokesperson said. It will be a full-service carrier with a single-class configuration like another Chennai-based carrier, Paramount Airways. Kolkata-based Kishore Zaveri-owned Zav Airways is another regional carrier planning operations in the east and north-east, with two Bombardier 80-seater and 70-seater planes. It already operates Bell helicopters for heli-taxi services and plans to invest Rs 450 crore in the first phase of its operations, with Kolkata as its operational base. King Airways will focus on north India and Sky King Aviation on the north-east.

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