Indian Airlines may fly to new overseas destinations

Airline is expecting more leased aircraft to join fleet

BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 9, 2006

State-owned airline Indian, formerly Indian Airlines, is to commence services to Europe and Australia and is in the process of leasing seven wide-bodied medium capacity aircraft. The airline is yet to commence services, owing to a shortage of aircraft, even as it got clearance to fly on these sectors in December 2004.

The airline has now got proposals for leasing five wide-bodied Airbus A330 and two Airbus 310s aircraft and is in the process of finalising the deal. The company is expected to evaluate the proposals furnished by the leasing companies in the next two-week period, before finalising the deal.

Indian expects to operate flights to Europe and Australia by early June. The airline was planning to dry-lease upto 12 wide body aircraft for period ranging between five to seven years.

The A-330 aircraft can carry 250 passengers in a two-class configuration and operate flights between India and Australia. This could be technically considered as non-flights, even though the flights would be stopping for technical checks. Similarly, an A-310 aircraft can also fly to London, but with a stop in West Asia.

The government has designated IA to operate flights to Australia and the US. Besides, the airline has received permission to commence operations to UK.

At present, Indian has operations to Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bahrain, Dubai and Kuwait among others.

In addition, the airline is to induct two more Airbus A-319 aircraft in the next few months is also close to finalising the lease of another three Airbus A-320 aircraft.