Air Costa to launch Delhi flights, add four planes in 2016

At present, Air Costa operates 32 flights daily from its South India hubs, on a regional; expects a national permit by Jan-end

Air Costa will start its flights to Delhi and Bhubaneswar next year. At present, Air Costa operates 32 flights daily from its hubs in South India. The airline will add four Embraer jets to its fleet as part of its expansion plan. It has four Embraer jets ( two  E-170 and E-190 each) and holds a regional operations permit. The company has applied for a national permit and expects to receive it by January-end.

“We will return to lessors two 67-seater E-170 jets and induct three 110-seater  E-190 jets by March.  All our inductions next year will be  of the E-190 variant. This will increase our seat capacity. We plan to start services to Delhi and Bhubaneswar from  summer schedule once we receive national permit,” said Vivek Choudhary, deputy chief execuitve officer, Air Costa.

Currently, the airline has engineering and operations base in Vijayawada and Chennai and flies to nine cities. Air Costa is evaluating Delhi as its hub in northern India.

“Our plan is to connect metros with non-metros,” he said. “The loads and yield in the first half of the year have been good but at net level we are yet to make a profit.  We hope to break-even by the second quarter of the next fiscal. At present, the company is fully funded by promoters but we are in discussions with private  investors for funding,” Choudhary added.

Last February, the airline ordered 50 Embraer E-2 jets and those deliveries will begin from 2018 onwards.