The Hindu Business Line : IA may operate more flights

Official sources told Business Line that with the proposed induction of four more Airbus A-320 aircraft, the airline plans to offer two flights a day on the Delhi-Hyderabad route instead of the morning Airbus A-300 aircraft which is in operation at present.

"The proposed induction of the A-320 aircraft will see the airline offering an additional 42 seats in each direction on the Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi sector alone. In addition, passengers will also have a choice in deciding at what time they want to travel," official sources said.

The proposed induction will also mean that on most metro routes, including Delhi-Bangalore and Delhi-Chennai, the state-owned airline will offer two flights in the morning and evening each day, sources said. Interestingly, traffic between the major metro cities has recorded a double-digit growth in the recent past.

Similarly, IA also plans to offer passengers both the choice of timings and additional seats on the Delhi-Kathmandu sector with the proposed induction of the four Airbus A-320 aircraft.

Besides, the airline also plans to increase the number of daily flights operated between Delhi and Mumbai and in the return direction to 12 with the proposed induction of more Airbus aircraft in June this year.

An empowered committee of the IA board cleared a proposal for induction of Airbus A-320 aircraft on April 7 this year, while a proposal for inducting four A-320 aircraft in June this year was given the nod earlier.

Sources indicated that the proposed induction of another six Airbus A-320 aircraft in November this year was likely to help the airline increase flights on major routes which could be both in the international and domestic sector.