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IA to acquire two A-300 aircraft on lease

Indian Airlines will acquire two more A-300 aircraft on lease next month to increase the existing services to various destinations, according to Captain S N Reddy, regional director (south) and director, operations (head quarters), Indian Airlines.

Talking to newsmen in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday, Reddy said the airlines had a fleet strength of 10 A-300 aircraft, of which one was grounded.

He said the Tiruchirapalli-Sharjah service was doing well and from May 1 to August 31 last, Indian Airlines had offered 7305 seats to Sharjah from Tiruchirapalli, of which 4417 seats were utilised. In the return direction, the total seats offered were 7568 of which 5769 were utilised.

Referring to marketing objectives for the current year, Reddy said the airlines was endeavouring to increase its domestic market share to 60 per cent and international market share to 11 per cent from the existing 9.3 per cent.

Reddy said that as part of its winter schedule,, the airlines proposed to increase its carrying capacity by rationalising the Indian Airlines and Alliance Air (IA's subsidiary) service in the Gulf and erstwhile Soviet Union.

He said it was also proposed to introduce a direct flight from Madras to Tashkent. A city pair link between Yangon and Singapore would be operated twice a week.

Indian Airlines would be offering 36,000 seats per day in its entire network in the winter schedule, which was slightly more than the 34,000 seats offered at present.

Reddy said Alliance Air would operate a biweekly Dornier services between Goa and Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands, and also Cochin and Calicut to promote tourism.

UNI