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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
May 13, 2005: Taking advantage of the recent liberalised air services agreement between India and the US, private carrier Air Sahara is to start a non-stop Chicago-Delhi flight in collaboration with an unnamed US carrier, starting this winter.
Air Sahara is also planning to begin scheduled operations to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, London, even as it has sought permissions to fly to Bangkok and Hong Kong.
Air Sahara is also in negotiations with aircraft manufacturers to take planes on lease for these operations.
"We plan to launch our London service by September-October this year and we have tied up with a US airline for the commencing of the services," Air Sahara Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta said.
Under the proposed model, both the carriers - Air Sahara and its unnamed US partner - would jointly run the operations, while the flights are also expected to be shared between the duo.
With the commencing of US operations, Air Sahara would become the first airline to operate non-stop services to US. At present, Air-India has operations to US, but these flights are re-routed to US through Europe.
Non-stop services would be advantage to Air Sahara as it would allow the carrier to operate faster services to the cities in the US.
Air Sahara is also in the process of acquiring aircraft to boost both its Indian and international operations. Air Sahara need to acquire a long-range aircraft like Airbus 340 to operate non-stop services to the US.
With Delta Airlines and Jet Airways also getting permission to fly to US, albeit through Europe, it would result in a double of passenger movement on the route, not to mention the reduction in airfare in the sector.
Air Sahara would also be launching a London service in winter of 2005 and negotiations to lease aircraft for these operations are also under way.
Meanwhile, the carrier is also expected to start daily operations to Singapore from Delhi from May 11, 2005. Air Sahara is also planning to begin operations to Kuala Lumpur from Chennai, starting from June 15, 2005.
Air sahara is offering the lowest return fare of Rs 13,000 on the Delhi-Singapore route and a three-day holiday package at Rs 17,200 per person for the city state. The airline is also working on inter-line agreement with foreign carriers including Air New Zealand, Garuda, Thai Air and Philippine Airlines among others.
The carrier has also sought permissions to fly to Bangkok and Hong Kong, permissions for which are yet to be granted by the aviation ministry.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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