Air India has embarked on its biggest fleet expansion project to purchase 68 aircraft at an estimated cost of Rs 30,000 crore (Rs 300 billion) in the next four to five years and would operate low-cost services to more international destinations, V Thulasidas, chief managing director, A-I said. Our plans for purchasing 68 aircraft are in the final stages. This is the biggest ever fleet expansion to be carried out in four-five years," Thulasidas said, who was in Thiruvananthapuram to announce the launch of the airline's budget service to the Gulf sector.
A fully-owned subsidiary of Air India, the low-cost airline would commence operations with inaugural flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Abu Dhabi. There would also be services from New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi and Kozhikode, he said.
The airline also plans to start budget flight to South East Asian destinations like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, he said.
A-I would commence direct flights to Toronto and Birmingham via Amritsar on May 15, he said, adding the airline also has a plan to start a non-stop service to the US.
Primarily meant for Indians working abroad, the low-cost service would offer as low as half the market rates to passengers making advanced booking, Thulasidas said.
The airline's plan was to achieve cost saving by cutting down avoidable expenses like luxury meals and liquor without compromising on the basic amenities, he said.
Out of the 43 budget flights to be operated from the country in the first phase, 31 would be from Kerala, he said. To start with, there would be seven flights a week from Kochi and Kozhikode and three from Thiruvananthapuram.
With this, the total number of flights from Kerala to the Gulf would go up to 63 from 56, he said.
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