Low-cost airline GoAir is focused on strengthening its existing network and would expand but has no immediate plan to fly to remote areas, its chief executive officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said on Sunday. He stated GoAir would operate a single aircraft type (Airbus A320s). It has 72 Airbus A320neos on order and deliveries begin from May.
"The recipe for success is a single fleet, high frequency on routes and good network and that is what we are aiming for. If you get distracted by too many things, you do not perform well in your core business," he said. Prock-Schauer said the airline has no plans to operate turbo prop aircraft and does not plan to apply for commuter airline permit to fly in regional or remote area routes.
"The top 20 airports in India generate 85 per cent of the traffic. There are about 50 airports now that are served by Indian carriers. I think it is important to serve these 50 first and then look at the 20 that have all the facilities but no flights. So, let us look at these airports first before we go to remote places," he said.
According to him, finding trained pilots to fly smaller planes on regional routes will be a problem. Airlines, including IndiGo and GoAir, have more than 520 A320s on order and, thus, there is a large requirement for pilots on that aircraft type. GoAir's fleet will remain constant at 19 A320s till next May when it receives the first of its fuel efficient A320neo. "We have a steady stream of aircraft coming till 2020. We are not taking additional planes on lease," he said.
"We are looking at starting overseas operations after we become eligible next year. We are still evaluating routes. It will not be large scale operation. Our goal is to run a profitable airline."
