Indian to fly long haul by Feb

MUMBAI: Indian, the state-run carrier, would expand its overseas network to fly to long-haul destinations like South Asia, Australia and China by February, V. Trivedi, chairman and managing director, said on Tuesday. The airline, formally know as Indian Airlines, already flies to a few international sectors like West Asia and Singapore.

The airline has floated a second global tender to lease wide-bodied aircraft, so that it can kick-start its international operations. The company plans to begin international operations even before it begins to take delivery of the 43 Airbus aircraft, some of which are wide-bodied and suitable for international operations.

On the mounting fuel bill, following the hike in aviation turbine fuel (ATF), Trivedi said that, thanks to the two surcharges it has levied (Rs 500 collectively), it is able to recover most of the increased fuel bill.

“A substantial part of the hike has been covered by the fuel surcharge. Of the Rs 360 crore hit expected, we would recover Rs 320 crore on account of the fuel surcharge,” he said. The gap leaves the door open for another round of fuel surcharge hike.

On setting up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in association with Airbus, Trivedi said Airbus officials were expected to visit the country in the next 15 days. “We would like them to hold a majority stake. It’s good for the business,” he said. According to the broad plans, while Indian Airlines would set up a MRO for narrow bodied planes, Air India’s MRO, in association with Boeing, would be for wide-bodied aircraft.