The Hindu Business Line : Air Sahara's Hyderabad hub to link global destinations

MAKING `Hub Hyderabad' the fulcrum, Air Sahara plans to connect several international destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, besides weaving a web of domestic destinations.

Addressing newspersons after the launch of the hub here on Saturday, Mr Rono Dutta, President and Chief Executive Officer, said the airline would operate 126 flights a week in the first phase. In a month's time, this will go up to 140 .

The hub, launched on February 3 for commercial operations, will connect 14 domestic destinations.

Visakhapatnam, the 23rd domestic destination for Air Sahara, is now connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Lucknow and other cities. Currently, the airline flies to 23 domestic destinations and two international destinations.

In the next phase, which will begin in a few months, the airline plans to connect Kathmandu and Colombo. It has also sought permission to fly to Singapore from this summer.

Mr Dutta said the airline would expand its fleet by acquiring more planes.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, formally launched the hub at the domestic terminal here. Dr Reddy said this added a new chapter to the country's aviation history in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular. He asked Air Sahara to consider linking Rajahmundry and Vijayawada.

Dr Reddy said the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance and the Congress (I) President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, would lay the foundation for the Hyderabad International Airport.

The State announced a special rate on ATF (aviation turbine fuel) for airlines operating more flights. For airlines operating 100-139 flights a week, the ATF rate will be 15 per cent. The tax will be 5 per cent for airlines that run more than 140 flights.

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