Wadia Group-owned GoAir has said that it is in talks with two European
companies to take care of the company?s aircraft maintenance and supply
of spare parts. Besides, the airline said it is contemplating to start
international operations and focus will be neighbouring countries.
After launching its service to Chennai, which will be the 22nd
destination for the airline in the country, Giorgio De Roni, chief
executive officer, Go Airlines (India) Ltd said, currently the aircraft
maintenance is done in-house. With the airline?s fleet increasing it is
better to have a maintenance agreement with another carrier which will
help bring down the cost.
While minor maintenance activities will be carried out in the
country, major overhaul will be taken up outside India, added Kamal
Kikani, vice president - customer service and airports, Go Airlines
(India) Ltd.
The airline expects to take delivery of 72 new fuel-efficient A320
NEO aircraft from Airbus starting 2016. In June 2011, GoAir announced it
has placed an order worth $7.2 billion, which according to the then
currency strength was estimated to be around Rs 32,400 crore.
The additional aircraft will be in addition to the 11 and its proposed target of 20 aircraft by mid-2014.
?We expect deliveries starting from the first quarter of 2016,? said Roni.
Meanwhile, the airline is also studying the possibility of
commencing international operations. ?We will not look at long haul
international routes, focus will be neigbouring countries,? said Roni.
At present, there is a threshold set by the Director General of
Civil Aviation (DGCA) that to operate internationally, the Indian
airlines should have at least 20 aircraft. However, the foreign airlines
who have operations in India do not have such mandates.
?We are studying the possibilities of approaching the government for
permission for the Indian airlines with fewer than 20 aircraft to fly
internationally,? he said.
Last fiscal, the airline operated around 30,000 flights with around
50,000 flight hours, serving around 4 million passengers to and from 21
destinations. This year, the company expects to operate around 35,000
flights, with 60,000 flight hours, serving 5 million passengers to reach
various destinations.
Meanwhile, even as airline companies are lining up for government?s
approval for directly importing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) which would
lower the fuel bill, there are issues like handling and transportation
of the fuel without contamination to be addressed, said Giorgio De Roni,
chief executive officer, Go Airlines (India) Ltd.
?There are some issues to be addressed before directly importing ATF
directly. The fuel has to be brought unloaded in the port and then
transported up to the aircraft. Contamination would be an issue in the
sector where safety is key priority,? he said.
?It should be a joint effort of the industry and we have to discuss it in the federation of airline companies,? he added.
Commenting on the talks on allowing for foreign direct investment in
the Indian carriers, he said that the foreign companies could support
the Indian airlines to grow better. However, he added that it is the
Indian companies which should strengthen their presence in the country.
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