The Hindu Business Line : Air Sahara to launch 66 flights connecting 14 new destinations

The airline, which is tentatively looking to start operations to Colombo on October 31 and to China from November 7, has also shown an interest in operating to Pakistan.

MORE FLIGHTS: Mr Alok Sharma, President, Air Sahara, addressing a news conference in the Capital on Thursday. — Kamal Narang

New Delhi Aug 17

, Air Sahara on Thursday announced that it would be launching 66 new flights connecting 14 new destinations within the country and abroad in the next four months.

Addressing a press conference, the Air Sahara President, Mr Alok Sharma, said the airline planned to operate daily flights on several new routes including Delhi-Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi-Kolkata-Port Blair.

New flight routes

The airline also planned to start services to tourist destinations such as Jodhpur, Khajurao and Udaipur from different cities across the country.

"We will also be further strengthening our position on the Delhi-Hyderabad and Delhi-Kolkata sector so as to be the largest airline operating on these routes," Mr Sharma said.

In addition, the airline would be launching daily non-stop flights on the Delhi-Colombo-Male, Delhi-Kolkata-Dhaka and Delhi-Guangzhou sectors shortly.

The airline, which is tentatively looking to start operations to Colombo on October 31 and to China from November 7, has also shown an interest in operating to Pakistan.

"We have sought the Government permission to operate flights to these international destinations. We see no problem and should get the permission in normal course," Mr Sharma said.

Initially, the airline plans to utilise a Boeing 737-800 aircraft to launch the China flight. "Guangzhou is in the southern most part of China and is about five hours flying time from Delhi. A Boeing 737-800 aircraft should easily be able to complete the flight," Mr Sharma added. Similarly, asked about the Colombo flight, Mr Sharma said it would leave Delhi at about 10.30 a.m. and return by about 8 p.m.

Aircraft

The airline is to utilise the two new Boeing 737-800 aircraft that would join the fleet in the next four weeks and make better use of the existing fleet to launch the proposed 66 flights.

"Currently, on an average the aircraft are utilised for 7.5 hours a day. We will increase this to 11 hours a day," the airline President said.

Asked whether the airline was facing a shortage of pilots, Mr Sharma said that at least half of the 35 pilots who had left the airline had returned.

"In the industry we are the best pay masters and with the growth plan that we have chalked out, pilots also realise that the future is bright," he added.