GoAir to increase fleet size to 26 in FY17

HYDERABAD: Wadia group-promoted GoAir today said its fleet size would be increased to 26 by end of this fiscal from 21 at present as the budget carrier is looking to fly on international routes from 2017.

"The total order book is 144 (aircraft of) A320. We will be taking their delivery until 2025. This basically gives delivery of one aircraft per month. From now onwards, until the end of this financial year we will increase (fleet size) to 26 aircraft.

"We are also looking at starting international operations from summer schedule next year. We are looking within A320 reach (6 hours of journey) which typically covers countries like China, CIS, Iran, Saudi Arabia. It depends on the approvals also," GoaAir CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer told a press conference.

A few months ago, GoAir received government's approval to fly to nine countries. GoAir would be the first Indian private carrier to fly to any CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). CIS countries for which the carrier has got flying nod include Uzbekistan, Kazakhastan and Azerbaijan.

GoAir, which recently announced addition of Hyderabad as its 23rd destination on its network, commenced operations from Hyderabad to Chennai yesterday.

In the second phase, GoAir has plans to introduce daily non-stop flights connecting Hyderabad to Chennai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata.

Hyderabad will also be connected to Port Blair via Bengaluru, which will provide leisure travelers additional travel option, prock-Schauer said.