Nagpur firm to join low cost airline race

AVIATION INDUSTRY SPREADS WINGS WIDE

Nagpur-based Fa Airways is planning to launch a low fare airline. The proposed airline will fly Boeing 737 aircraft on short-haul routes.

Though it is positioned as low fare airline, Fa is expected to have certain "frills" in extending services to passengers. The airline will have its base at Nagpur and plans to connect small towns to metros.

The move is in wake of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC)'s multi-modal international hub airport at Nagpur (MIHAN).

MIHAN involves setting up of an airport across 1200 hectare with space for parking 50 aircraft in the terminal and provision of aircraft engineering and maintenance base.

The airline is planning to connect smaller towns and cities including Mumbai, Rajkot, Belgaum, Nashik, Bangalore, Mangalore, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nanded, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Kolhapur, Surat and Baroda.

FA Airways founder chairman Narendra R Goyal said FA will become operational with new generation Boeing 737 aircraft and this will ensure passengers a safe and stylish journey. "We promise to provide business class comfort at economy class fare," Goyal said.

The idea is to provide direct connectivity between small towns, which are only other wise linked via metro cities, he said. "We intend to cater to the need for intra connectivity between small towns. Courteous and friendly service with frill will be the hall mark of Fa Airways," he added.