Asia news in brief

Indigo seeks faster deliveries
Indian low-cost carrier Indigo says it is on track to become profitable in the fiscal year ending March 2009 despite stiff losses in its first year of operations. Founder and majority owner Rahul Bhatia acknowledges competition in the Indian domestic market is too intense now for any low-cost carrier to be profitable, but says Indigo is looking to accelerate rather than defer deliveries of the 90 Airbus A320s it has on outstanding order. For more on Indigo read our web chief executive interview with Bhatia at www.flightglobal.com/Indigo

Garuda halts partner search
Garuda Indonesia has shelved its search for a strategic equity partner as it continues to work on debt restructuring. The Indonesian flag carrier has been in financial difficulty and over the past several months has been looking for a strategic equity partner. It told creditors at a meeting in Singapore that it has "suspended its search for a strategic partner for Garuda pending the successful completion of a debt restructuring".

Mandala expands
Indonesia's Mandala Airlines has ordered 25 Airbus narrowbodies for delivery from 2011 to support a major expansion. The carrier now operates two leased A320s alongside six Boeing 737s, which will be replaced by the new A320s. Four more leased A320s are also to be added this year. Mandala, part owned by Bill Franke's US investment firm Indigo Partners, aims to expand internationally.

New cargo carrier for China
A new cargo airline in China part-owned by Korean Air is to be known as Grand Star. The Tianjin-based carrier is majority-owned by Chinese logistics company Sinotrans. KAL and two other South Korean companies own 49%. The airline will initially fly an Airbus A300-600F and a Boeing 747-400F.

Qiantang prepares for launch
Chinese start-up carrier Qiantang Airways plans to launch scheduled passenger services from its Hangzhou base early next year using leased Airbus A320s. The privately owned carrier also is acquiring 10 A320s for delivery between 2009 and 2011.

Source: Airline Business