IA board nod for lease of nine aircraft

Indian Airlines has decided to lease nine wide-bodied aircraft to expand its international operations, as well as to add additional capacity in its existing domestic routes. The airline has also sought permission from the government to launch services to Jeddah and Hong Kong.

The airline's board, which met here today, cleared the proposal to induct additional aircraft. The leased aircraft will replace the existing three wide-bodied aircraft Indian Airlines currently has in its fleet.

The technical committee of the airline has recommended that one type of aircraft from the Boeing family and one type of aircraft from the Airbus family may be considered for dry leasing by Indian Airlines through a global tender.

"These aircraft will be used for upgrading services on current international operations of Indian Airlines as well as for opening new routes with wide-bodied aircraft to destinations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East," the airline said in a statement.

Indian Airlines will now approach the government for necessary approvals to expand its service in new international operations.

Indian Airlines also announced low rates for specific flights on 10 sectors. The carrier announced a new scheme""'fly select fares'""offering two levels of rates which were below the normal ones on select flights.

While Jet Airways has launched 'check fares', Air Sahara has started the 'steal fares' scheme, both effective from this week.

While Indian Airlines has offered select fares on 10 sectors, Jet Airways offers it on 11 and Air Sahara on 6.

The Indian Airlines 'select fares' are Rs 5,800 and Rs 7,100 for the Bangalore-Delhi sector, Rs 4,200 and Rs 5,100 for Delhi-Mumbai, Rs 3,200 and Rs 3,700 for Mumbai-Bangalore, Rs 4,700 and Rs 5,900 for Delhi-Hyderabad, Rs 5,800 and Rs 7,100 for Chennai-Delhi, Rs 2,850 and Rs 3,300 for Chennai-Hyderabad, Rs 5,700 and Rs 6,700 for Delhi-Guwahati, Rs 4,080 for Mumbai-Nagpur, Rs 2,180 for Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Rs 7,130 for Chennai-Kolkata.

The schemes will be complementary to the advance purchase schemes and passengers need not purchase tickets in advance.

The traffic on each flight will determine availability of seats under these fares on select flights.

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Airline policy

The leased aircraft will replace the existing three wide-bodied aircraft IA currently has in its fleet

The technical committee of the airline has recommended that one type of aircraft from the Boeing family and one type of aircraft from the Airbus family may be considered for dry leasing by IA through a global tender

IA will now approach the government for necessary approvals to expand its service in new international routes