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Tuesday 28 June 2016

With small towns in focus, Air India eyes suitable planes: Chairman

Air India is charting an ambitious plan to connect more number of small towns, which is one of the pillars of the new aviation policy, and has initiated the process to identify which aircraft will fit the bill best, the flag carrier's chairman has said.

"Our prime focus is to increase regional connectivity. We will try to connect as many places as possible," Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwin Lohani told IANS in an interview at its headquarters Airlines House here.

"In the recent past, for example, we started around 10-12 direct flight connections between our hub at the airport here (Indira Gandhi International Airport) to Tier I and II cities. They are doing well," Lohani said, adding a similar move is underway from regional hubs to smaller towns.


The airline currently has only leased aircraft for regional coverage.

The fleet comprises three CRJ-700s with a capacity of 70 seats each, three ATR 42-320 and five ATR 72-600 to connect smaller cities and towns.

"Plans are to induct more aircraft -- smaller aircraft -- and may be in a slightly different category," he said.

"We are looking at various options. But smaller jets seem to fit the bill. They would be faster, cost less and, perhaps, even be cheaper to operate," Lohani said, adding that the airline may also go for 100-seat jets.
To Read the News in Full 17/06/16 IANS/Business Standard
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