Air Costa to Take Off This Month

Monday, 1st July 2013 at 05:31am

India's commercial domestic travel market will soon have another player with the entry of Air Costa.

The Andhra Pradesh-based airline will have its hub in the state's commercial capital, Vijayawada, which is also the location of the headquarters of its holding company, Lingamaneni Estates and Projects Ltd (LEPL).

The new airline though is still in the process of getting its license to operate from the country's regulatory agency, Directorate General of Civil Aviation. As soon as it gets hold of the said necessary documents, it will commence commercial operations this month (July 2013).

Air Costa will focus its operations in the southern Tiet II and Tier III cities of the country from its main hub in Vijayawada. It will launch six routes out of its hub in its first phase of operations. The six routes are considered underserved in terms of air connectivity to major urban centers of India.

During its maiden operations, Air Costa will initially have three Embraer jets in its fleet, two of which will be leased from Embraer, Brazil's largest aircraft maker. It will buy its third aircraft, the E-190 that can seat up to 90 passengers in a two-class layout. The E-170 jets, on the other hand, has a maximum capacity of up to 80 passengers in a single-class layout.

The two aircraft under lease from Embraer have already arrived at Vijayawada's Gannavaram airport.

The E-Jets is a family of medium-range twin-engine and narrow-body jet airliners suitable for medium-haul routes.

According to the airline's CEO and Captain, Babu, the choice of E-Jet family of aircraft is a logical move for its maiden service to the target destinations for its ideal size and range.

Air Costa is the brainchild of real estate giant founder, Ramesh Lingamaneni, who is also the new airline's Chairman and Managing Director.

By: Pete Lee.