GoAir explores Kuwait, Tehran routes for international foray

GoAir is evaluating destinations such as Kuwait, Male (Maldives) and Tehran for its planned international foray next year.

According to sources, the airline is looking at limited international operations from Mumbai and Delhi in the next summer schedule when its inducts its 20th aircraft.

At present, GoAir has 19 Airbus A320 aircraft. It has also ordered 72 A320neo, which will be added to the fleet when deliveries start next year. It has had the slowest fleet growth among its peers with an average addition of two planes a year. It has been unable to launch international flights till now because the rules require airlines to be in operation for five years and to possess 20 aircraft in their fleet for overseas flights.

GoAir did not respond to an e-mail query on the topic.

Last month, the airline's chief executive, Wolfgang Prock Schauer, had told Business Standard: "We are looking at starting overseas operations after we become eligible next year. We are still evaluating routes. It will not be a large-scale operation. Our goal is to run a profitable airline."

GoAir expects to receive its first Airbus A320neo plane next May, but delay is likely considering postponement in deliveries to the first two customers - Qatar Airways and IndiGo. Airbus is expected to inform GoAir about its delivery schedule next month and there is a possibility of the airline leasing an aircraft to add extra capacity.

"GoAir will have to take a call on whether to launch flights to destinations with high volumes and high competition or low volume and limited competition. SpiceJet, too, tried launching flights on new routes like Delhi-Guangzhou, but was not successful," an aviation analyst remarked.

At present, Air India and SpiceJet fly to Maldives and Air India and Jet Airways to Kuwait, but no Indian carrier flies to Tehran. Iranian carriers fly to Delhi and Mumbai at present. Similarly, Kuwait and Maldives are connected with India with airlines from both sides.

"Prock Schauer led the strategy and execution of Jet Airways' international operations during his tenure as chief executive in the airline. This experience will be helpful. GoAir will look at all routes to Gulf and South East Asia, which are within the range of Airbus A320 type plane. The choice of destinations will also depend on traffic rights. Securing traffic rights to destinations other than Dubai or Abu Dhabi will not be a challenge because utilisation of Indian carriers is low," said K G Vishwanath, founder partner of Trinity Aviation Consultants, Singapore.