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Mumbai Feb. 6 The President of Sahara Airlines Ltd, Mr Alok Sharma, thinks that there is a big opportunity for turboprop planes and regional jets in India. He made this point during his presentation on the first of the two-day South Asia Aviation Finance Conference being held in Mumbai.

That probably explains why Air Sahara, as the airline is popularly known, is in talks with Canada's Bombardier Inc, the world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer, to buy up to 25 aircraft.

"We are (in talks)," Mr Sharma said after his presentation, "We haven't talked numbers yet... it is too early but if things go right we can easily look at 25 airplanes."

Mr Sharma added that Air Sahara would probably talk to Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA, the world's fourth largest aircraft manufacturer, as well. According to him, the new aircraft would have a 75-seatercapacity.

"I think flying Tier II to Tier I (cities) has potential," Mr Sharma said. f operations and trimming non-fuel costs would help, he added.

Air Sahara currently operates seven Bombardier aircraft on lease, and flies over 20 aircraft. It also has ten 737-800s on order from the Boeing Company at a list price of $700 million.

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