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New Delhi, Feb. 13 Madurai-based Paramount Airways is firming up plans for international flights and hopes to make an announcement on acquiring wide-body aircraft at the Singapore air show that begins next week.

The airline plans to use the wide-body aircraft mainly to operate flights abroad.

The airline’s Managing Director, Mr M. Thiagarajan, told Business Line that if all the agreements were completed before the air show, an announcement will be made during the show otherwise, it will be made in India soon after the show is completed. The week-long air show opens on February 19.

“We are evaluating the Airbus A330 and Airbus A350 as also the Boeing 777 and 787. We are in advance talks with both the manufacturers and depending on how fast the talks are firmed up, an announcement will be made,” Mr Thiagarajan said.

Airline officials were, however, tight-lipped on the number of firm and optional aircraft orders being considered.

The airline is looking at wide-body aircraft purchase more than two years before becoming eligible to operate abroad.

The current Government policy requires an airline to complete five years of domestic operations before being eligible to operate international flights.

Paramount Airways will complete five years of domestic operations in 2010. The airline is looking at international operations as a natural growth for its domestic operations.

Meanwhile, the airline is to acquire another two Embraer aircraft which would be used not only to foray into the western part of the country but also to expand the existing route network in South India.

“The aircraft will be used to operate flights from Bangalore and Chennai to Pune and Goa. We will also be operating to Tiruchi and Kozhikode when the new aircraft arrive,” Mr Thiagarajan said.

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