GoAir and IndiGo seek nod to operate from Bangalore

GoAir and IndiGo seek nod to operate from Bangalore
The Hindu

The airlines are new entrants to the low-cost segment

Bangalore: Air travellers from Bangalore will soon have more airlines to choose for their inland travel plans. The Wadia Group-promoted GoAir and Delhi-based IndiGo, two new entrants to the low-cost segment, have sought permission from the Director-General of Civil Aviation functioning under the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to operate from Bangalore as part of their route expansion plans.

"Both GoAir and IndiGo have applied for permission to operate from Bangalore. They are expected to include Bangalore in their network once the clearance comes," a Bangalore airport official said.

Currently, Indian Airlines, Air Sahara, Jet Airways, Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines operate about 90 domestic flights daily from Bangalore. The official said that the airport authorities were looking at ways to accommodate the new operators given the acute slot constraints facing the airport. "Everybody wants operating slots at the same time," he quipped. GoAir started commercial operations from November 4 with the inaugural flight connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad.

The budget airline is operating with one leased aircraft Airbus A-320 while one more A-320 is expected to join the fleet by mid-November. It plans to have a fleet of six leased A-320 aircraft by June next year.