The Hindu Business Line : Alliance may lease or buy 16 turbo-props

New Delhi April 15 Alliance Air, the 100 per cent subsidiary of Indian, plans to either lease or purchase up to 16 turbo-prop aircraft to expand its operations.

The airline has entered the market seeking information on the various types of 50-seater turbo prop-aircraft that are available and likely dates by when the aircraft could be delivered to Alliance Air.

"No decision has yet been taken on the number of aircraft that we will lease or purchase. It is possible that we lease all 16 or go in for a mix of purchasing some and leasing some other aircraft to meet our requirement. A clearer picture on what route should be followed will emerge shortly after we get a response from the market," sources said.

The airline plans to acquire these aircraft over the next 18 months.

If a decision is taken to purchase aircraft, it will be the first time since Alliance started operations in 1996 that the airline will be buying fresh aircraft.

The airline, that started operations with aircraft leased from Indian Airlines, currently has a fleet of 17 aircraft that includes 11 Boeing 737, ATR 42 and Dornier aircraft.

A decision to purchase aircraft would make Alliance the fourth State-owned airline to enter the market. Indian, Air India and Air India Express have together ordered 111 brand new aircraft with the combined deal being valued at more than Rs 30,000 crore.