IndiGo seeks approval from govt to launch international flights

New Delhi: Budget-carrier IndiGo plans to launch international services on 15 routes starting from the middle of next year, according to a proposal it has submitted to the aviation ministry.
The Gurgaon-based carrier, which has a 16.8% share in the domestic passenger market, will complete five years of local operations in August, meeting a key requirement for local airlines to fly overseas.
IndiGo, with at least 16 Airbus A320 aircraft to augment its fleet of 32 A320s between now and 2011, plans to launch international services in a phased manner from August, the airline said.
The carrier has shortlisted 15 sectors it wants to connect, including Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Kathmandu, Jeddah, the Maldives, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, it said in the draft proposal, which was reviewed by Mint.
It has sought to launch most of its flights from New Delhi and Mumbai, while those to West Asia will be from Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, besides between Chennai and Singapore, keeping the flight range of its Airbus 320 in mind.
On 17 March, Mint had reported that the airline has sought in-principle approval from the government for a 2011 international launch so it can negotiate with airports and vendors. The ministry did grant the approval, but the second and tougher part involves seeking rights for each of the cities the airline wants to fly to now.
13/12/10 Live Mint

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Categories: Foreign Dec 2010, Indigo Airlines Dec 2010, New Dec 2010