Two start-ups in India are planning to launch operations soon, marking the debut of the Embraer ERJ-145 and E-170 in the country.
Bangalore-based Air One will be India’s first airline to operate the 50-seat ERJ-145 regional jet and Coimbatore-based Paramount Airways will be the first to use the 70-seat E-170.
Air One, which originally planned to launch operations on 15 August, will now do so on 15 October. It plans to get its first ERJ-145 at the end of this month and the second at the end of next month, says managing director J W Lobo.
These two ERJ-145s will be on dry lease from Swiss International Airlines and Air One plans to lease three more ERJ-145s.
Paramount has also delayed its launch, from 7 September to 23 September. Its first E-170 will arrive in India about one week before launch and its second E-170 – also on lease from Embraer – is due in January 2006. It also has lease orders for three Embraer 175s from GE Commercial Aviation Services.
Paramount and Air One both say the delays in launching are because it has taken longer than expected to get the aircraft certificated in India.
LEITHEN FRANCIS/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
