Jagson Airlines to launch national airline, buy 19 Airbus planes

BY A CORRESPONDENT
5th January 2006

Jagson Airlines promoted by Jagdish Gupta has announced plans to launch a national airline with an investment of Rs 1500 crore over the next three years. If all goes well, Jagson will be flying metro and non-metro routes by the end of this year.

As of now, Jagson Airlines operates flights in Uttaranchal, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Jagson Airlines will add 19 Airbus planes to its fleet, targeting to launch flights to nine cities by end-2006.

Said Jagson Airlines CEO Uttam Kumar Bose: "Jagson will now fly as a national airline covering nine cities by this year-end with inaugural flight between New Delhi and Bangalore in April or May.'' Bose recently quit Air Sahar to join Jagson Airlines.

Jagson Airlines was the first private airline to get its registration after the government opened civil aviation to private sector in 1002. However, the company restricted itself to chartered flights even as Jet Airways and Air Sahara snapped up mindshare and marketshare.

Before taking off as a national airline, Jagson Airlines will have convert its existing licence as a non-scheduled operator to that of a scheduled operator.