Air borne

Indus Air is set to connect major Indian cities

It's been a year of announcements by new airlines. Chennai-based Air Dravida announced its plans to operate Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft on regional routes within south India and Surya Airlines its plans to commence operations by end of 2006 linking Guwahati with various towns in the north eastern part of India. Now Indus Air, to be launched by October-end, has announced its plan to fly a full service carrier.

The CEO of the company, Capt A P C Kapoor said that the airline would be based in Delhi and will add a few more hubs in the future, the next being Chandigarh. Initially, the airline will connect cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Jammu, Allahabad, Pathankot and later expand pan India.

"We will start with flying two 50-seater CRJ-200 jetliners of Canadian-make, one of which is already waiting in Delhi," says Capt Kapoor.

They also plan to induct CRJ 900 and B737-800/900 aircraft soon. "By March, we will have a total of five aircraft, including two Boeings," he added.

Incidentally, Indus Air is not competing with the low-cost carriers. "We will be priced similar to other airlines on the route," says Kapoor.

The aircraft will have single class configuration with leather seats, a good 32-inch seat pitch and will offer food (catered by Ambassador) as well.

The target segment, explains Kapoor, is corporates and small and medium enterprises. The chairman of Indus Air is Brigadier Dr Kapil Mohan, CMD of Mohan Meakins, who has invested in Rs 100 crore in the airline.