Air Costa, an Andhra Pradesh-based regional airline, will launch services from next month, as per a Business Standard report. The company will focus on its operations in South India and is planning to operate six flights in the first phase, it said yesterday. Air Costa is in the process of getting final approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the sectoral regulator. “Air Costa has chosen the state-of-the-art fly-by-wire Embraer E-Jets for their efficiency and reliability. Our plan is to link the under-served markets in India with more direct flights,” K N Babu, CEO, Air Costa, said. The airline is promoted by Vijayawada-based Lingamaneni Estates and Projects Ltd, which has businesses in urban infrastructure, power, hospitality education and entertainment sectors. The company proposes to launch the airline with a fleet of three E-Jets that are most suitable for the regional short-haul connectivity between Tier-II and Tier-III cities with major metros, the company said. It has acquired two 70-seater E-170s Jets leased from Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer, and they have already arrived at the Gannavaram airport in Vijayawada. The third aircraft, E-190, has been bought by the company and it is yet to be delivered, according to people close the development. Besides this, the Air Costa promoters are in the process of negotiations for leasing two more aircraft from a different company, sources said. “We are very pleased with the support that Embraer has provided to us for the launch of our airline and we look forward to a long successful and mutually-rewarding relationship,” Ramesh Lingamaneni, Chairman and Managing Director, Air Costa, said in his statement. “Regional air services have a lot of potential in India, especially as the economy of South Indian cities is booming. We are committed to further growth in the Indian market by undertaking additions to our fleet and launching new routes in the medium-term,” he added.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:53:58 +0000
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