Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
JET AIRWAYS IS finalising plans for the acquisition of a fleet of regional aircraft to operate on services in north-eastern India.
,Jet Airways' chairman Naresh Goyal says that the airline is committed to initiating regional services: "We are vigorously pursuing plans to induct smaller aircraft into the fleet for operation of regional feeder air services, with aircraft based in Calcutta, Madras, western India and Delhi. Detailed plans are being drawn up, once suitable aircraft have been identified, the plans will be submitted to the Government for approval."
Earlier this year the airline revealed plans to create two regional divisions: one in western India, in association with Gujarat Industrial Investment and the State Industrial Investment Corporation of Maharashtra; and the other based in Calcutta in collaboration with the Government of West Bengal (Flight International, 10-16 April, P12).
Eight or nine aircraft models are being looked at, seating between 19 and 50-60 passengers. "Our fleet planning committee is evaluating a number of models, including ATR, Beech, Fokker, Bombardier and others," says Goyal. "We will acquire a fleet of ten to 12 aircraft, and expect to finalise a decision within 90 days."
The Bombay, India-based private airline, which began operations three years ago, is also continuing the expansion of its network, and its fleet of leased Boeing 737-300s and -400s. Four -400s have been added in the last 12 months, bringing its fleet to ten. A further four will be leased from Malaysia Airlines over the next few months. By the end of next year the fleet is expected to total 23 aircraft.
Jet Airways, the shareholders of which include Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways (20% each), says that it had a turnover of $130 million in 1995, and the airline reports that it is "in profit".
The Indian authorities have forced East West Airlines to suspend operations because of its failure to make payments for landing, parking and navigational charges. The Bombay-based airline has a fleet of nine Boeing 737-200s, although it is understood that only one aircraft was operational at the time of service suspension, partly because of its maintenance requirements, and because of a dispute with a lessor (Flight International , 26 June- 2 July, P13). East West is discussing a payment schedule, and aims to make a representation to the authorities.
Source: Flight International
