Air India Express to add 25 aircraft

Thiruvananthapuram: Air India (AI) has decided to replace leased aircraft of its budget carrier AI-Express with completely owned fleet. It is also on the lookout for recruiting more manpower.
"As many as four aircraft wil be purchased in 2007 itself to expand the budget flight services," AI chairman and managing director V Thulasidas told reporters, here.
This will mean AI-Express doubling its fleet to 25 aircraft by next year. Out of the 13 that the budget-carrier operates now, seven are on lease.
Within 90 days, AI-Express will start daily service connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, AI-Express officials said.
Pilot-training was also high in priority. AI needs at least 1000 pilots in the coming years, according to Thulasidas. Through campus placement, engineering graduates will be picked up for pilot-training. AI has also signed an MoU with the Indian Air Force to faciliate hiring of retired IAF pilots, he added.
AI-Express had earned Rs 690 crore revenue on 7.5 lakh passengers.
In the first year, profit after tax was Rs 1.5 crore.
01/05/07 Financial Express

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Categories: Air India Express May 2007