The Hindu Business Line : Air Dravida to fly as non-scheduled airline from July

New Delhi, April 14 The Chennai-based Air Dravida is to begin operations as a non-scheduled airlines from July this year. The Executive Director, Mr Ramachandran Iyer, told Business Line that the airline recently received approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to start operations.

“In course of time we will apply to the Government for a scheduled airline status. The only difference that getting a scheduled airline licence will make is that it will allow us to print a time-table, something that we are not allowed as a non-scheduled airline,” Mr Iyer said.

Officials were of the opinion that having a non-scheduled airlines permit in the beginning should make little difference to their operations or even the passengers. “The time of the flight will be printed on the ticket. Besides, travel agents, through whom at least 80-90 per cent of ticket bookings are expected, will have the timings on their computer reservation systems,” officials said.

The airline, which would be a full service carrier, initially plans to connect Chennai with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. Air Dravida plans to start operations with a fleet of three aircraft.

Importing aircraft

“In the next few days the airline hopes to file the application for import of three Canadian Regional aircraft, each of which can seat 50 passengers. After a few months we plan to import another two such aircraft,” Mr Iyer added.

The decision to operate 50-seater aircraft will allow the airline to seek the various fiscal incentives offered by the Government to small aircraft operators. “The idea is to launch a single-class configuration airline that offers frequent flights on short-haul routes in south India,” officials added.

Incidentally, the route being adopted by Air Dravida was earlier followed by the Delhi-based MDLR Airlines, which also started as a non-scheduled airlines and was recently granted scheduled airline status by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

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