IndiGo, the country's largest airline by market share, has announced plans to induct 50 smaller aircraft for regional routes, giving a major boost to the government's `UDAN' initiative to boost regional connectivity.
IndiGo said it would add about 50 turboprop aircraft for regional operations that would be run by a separate division.
Both travellers and operators have responded well to UDAN, regional connectivity scheme under which Alliance Air, a subsidiary of national carrier Air India, has connected Delhi and Shimla, and Hyderabad-based Trujet has connected Hyderabad to Kadapa and Nanded.
Trujet has already announced plans to add more routes after initial success, while Alliance Air's flights to Shimla from Delhi are sold out for the next two months. IndiGo is expected to start turboprop aircraft operation this year and is likely to induct 20 planes by the end of the calendar.
A pet project of Modi, UDAN scheme seeks to connect regional towns with a fare cap of Rs.2,500 per person per hour. The government provides a subsidy to compensate for any operational loss due to fare cap.
Trujet flights, too, have good demand, with about 80% of seats occupied. Trujet will launch other regional flights next month as it is adding new aircraft by the end of this month.
The airline currently operates a fleet of five 70-seater ATR aircraft. Out of these, 36 seats per flight are sold under the UDAN scheme.
Travel industry insiders expect the scheme to give at least 3-4% push to aviation growth in the country.
IndiGo said it would add about 50 turboprop aircraft for regional operations that would be run by a separate division.
Both travellers and operators have responded well to UDAN, regional connectivity scheme under which Alliance Air, a subsidiary of national carrier Air India, has connected Delhi and Shimla, and Hyderabad-based Trujet has connected Hyderabad to Kadapa and Nanded.
Trujet has already announced plans to add more routes after initial success, while Alliance Air's flights to Shimla from Delhi are sold out for the next two months. IndiGo is expected to start turboprop aircraft operation this year and is likely to induct 20 planes by the end of the calendar.
A pet project of Modi, UDAN scheme seeks to connect regional towns with a fare cap of Rs.2,500 per person per hour. The government provides a subsidy to compensate for any operational loss due to fare cap.
Trujet flights, too, have good demand, with about 80% of seats occupied. Trujet will launch other regional flights next month as it is adding new aircraft by the end of this month.
The airline currently operates a fleet of five 70-seater ATR aircraft. Out of these, 36 seats per flight are sold under the UDAN scheme.
Travel industry insiders expect the scheme to give at least 3-4% push to aviation growth in the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment