Air India Express new Doha flights on hold

Shortage of aircraft spurs decision

BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 24, 2006

Low-cost airline Air India Express has deferred plans to increase flight frequency to Doha from April during the summer schedule, due to a shortage of aircraft. Recently, the government had permitted Emirates and other UAE-based carriers to increase services to India.

Air India Express will be getting 18 Next Generation Boeing 737-800s, but these would not be used on the India-UAE route. Air India Express now plans to launch the proposed 12 daily flights to Doha in November.

The large expatriate Indian community, mostly from the state of Kerala, had lobbied for the low-budget flights to Doha. Air India had earlier promised to operate flights to Doha at 15 to 20 per cent lower fares in comparison with other airlines. The budget flights would be offering lower free baggage allowance as well as less in-flight comforts.

For now, Air India will operate four weekly flights to Doha from Kochi, two weekly flights to Thiruvananthapuram and two to Kozhikkode. In addition, an extra flight between Doha and Mumbai will be operated by the airline every Tuesday to offer three services between Doha Mumbai every week.

Air-India had signed a purchase agreement with Boeing for buying B737-800s for AI-Express, in addition to 23 B777s (eight B777-200LR and 15 B777-300ER) and 27 B787-8 Dreamliners for Air India. The AI-Express aircraft are expected to arrive later this year, while the AI craft are only expected by 2007.

The B777-200LR, B777-300ER and B787-8 Dreamliners are expected to bring about substantial reductions in operational costs. In addition, Air India will be stepping up in-flight services with the new aircraft to maximize comfort and performance, and generate the substantial revenue it would require to pay off loans Air India has incurred during aircraft acquisition.