New Delhi: With the government focusing more on improving regional connectivity, no-frill carriers have started thinking of buying smaller aircraft with IndiGo even evaluating launching a regional subsidiary, a leading aviation consultancy firm has said.
"IndiGo is also evaluating the possibility of placing an ATR (turboprop aircraft) order to establish a regional subsidiary," the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said in a latest report.
While all major no-frill carriers -- IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir -- have either Boeing or Airbus narrow-body aircraft fleet, all of them have started considering acquiring smaller aircraft like turboprop ATRs or Bombardier's Q400s.
"SpiceJet remains undecided on whether to exercise its options for a further 15 Q400s, however CAPA expects that the carrier will increase its regional fleet in due course," the study said, adding that GoAir "is also considering inducting turboprops to serve Tier-II and Tier-III cities".
03/03/13 PTI/Business Standard
