Bengaluru: Regional carrier Air Costa is looking at widening its horizon, planning to expand its operations across the country. The Vijayawada-based airline recently received the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, and is just a step away from taking to the skies, as it is waiting for DGCA’s Air Operators Permit (AOP).
In an interaction with Deccan Herald’s Shemin Joy, Air Costa Deputy Chief Executive Officer Vivek Choudhary shares the flight plan of the company going forward.
You have received the NoC from the Civil Aviation Ministry. When do you expect to get the AOP? When can you start operations?
We received the NOC for pan-India operations. We have initiated the AOP application process, and are hopeful of obtaining the same in a month.
Subsequently, we will be able to start the pan-India operations from the summer schedule 2016, commencing March 27, 2016.
What are your destinations in the first year as you plan to expand pan-India? What are your long-term plans? What are the targets ahead?
We are looking at options of connecting Delhi and Mumbai to our existing network. Our long-term plan will be to extend our current philosophy of connecting the metros to smaller towns and cities at a pan-India level.
We believe that the market for 80-120 seats is the fastest growing segment and will dominate the aviation space in the coming years, as we see the demand for air travel increasing in more tier II and tier III cities.
Also, the government’s initiatives on improving air transport infrastructure in the smaller towns and cities will help us consolidate our position in this segment. We are also strongly placed, as currently, we are the only operator of aircraft in the 80-120 seater segment (from Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer).
To Read the News in Full11/01/17 Deccan Herald
In an interaction with Deccan Herald’s Shemin Joy, Air Costa Deputy Chief Executive Officer Vivek Choudhary shares the flight plan of the company going forward.
You have received the NoC from the Civil Aviation Ministry. When do you expect to get the AOP? When can you start operations?
We received the NOC for pan-India operations. We have initiated the AOP application process, and are hopeful of obtaining the same in a month.
Subsequently, we will be able to start the pan-India operations from the summer schedule 2016, commencing March 27, 2016.
What are your destinations in the first year as you plan to expand pan-India? What are your long-term plans? What are the targets ahead?
We are looking at options of connecting Delhi and Mumbai to our existing network. Our long-term plan will be to extend our current philosophy of connecting the metros to smaller towns and cities at a pan-India level.
We believe that the market for 80-120 seats is the fastest growing segment and will dominate the aviation space in the coming years, as we see the demand for air travel increasing in more tier II and tier III cities.
Also, the government’s initiatives on improving air transport infrastructure in the smaller towns and cities will help us consolidate our position in this segment. We are also strongly placed, as currently, we are the only operator of aircraft in the 80-120 seater segment (from Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer).
To Read the News in Full11/01/17 Deccan Herald
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