Smaller airlines rework plans to remain in race

New Delhi: The new private sector airport operators in Delhi and Mumbai have said they will not be able to accommodate smaller aircraft, forcing regional airlines to rework their business strategies.
Companies such as Star Air, Megha Airways, Air Dravida, Easy Air and Trans India Air, which are awaiting permits to operate air services, have either put their plans on hold or are heading to southern or eastern India under the regional airlines category licence notified last week.
According to an industry source, Delhi International Airport (DIAL) in a recent letter to the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has said: “Due to congestion at the airport, it will not be possible for us to accommodate any additional smaller aircraft like ATRs/CRJs during the rest of summer 2007 and winter 2007-08.” DIAL, which manages and operates the Delhi airport, is a GMR group-led consortium.
Some of the airlines that have decided to operate as regional airlines in the south and eastern India are Star Air, Megha Airways, Air Dravida, Easy Air and Trans India Air. These airlines had earlier applied to the civil aviation ministry to operate as national schedule carriers.
According to the notification on the regional airlines, companies will have to undertake operations primarily between airports of any of the four regions — north, south, west, east and north-east.
20/08/07 Nirbhay Kumar/Economic Times

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Categories: General Aviation Aug 2007, New Aug 2007