GoAir to start Hyderabad flights

Company looking at fund-raising options

BY A CORRESPODENT
April 26, 2006

Low-cost carrier GoAir has announced plans to connect Hyderabad to metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata in the near future. The airline is in the middle of a fleet expansion, and expect to have a fleet strength of eight planes by 2006-end, 18 by 2007-end and 33 by 2008 end.

GoAir currently connects 13 cities by 28 flights with a fleet of four aircraft. The company expects to break even this year.

GoAir will finalise plans to launch flights from Hyderabad in a couple of months' time. GoAir is competing with the railways to lure upper class passengers to board its flights.

GoAir is also planning to raise funds for its expansion plans. The company, though "not in a hurry", is actively looking at the funding options. The company had placed an order for 20 Airbus aircraft at the Singapore Air Show in February this year.

According to Jeh Wadia, managing director of the airline, the company is planning to first consolidate itself in the cities where they operate, before entering new cities.