Paramount to begin flying abroad from Oct

Chennai-based Paramount Airways is to start its international operations from October next year, when it receives delivery of its first Airbus 321 aircraft.

The airline qualifies to fly abroad in the same month, when it completes the government’s mandatory pre-requisite of having been in operation for five years.

The airline had earlier announced that it will start international flights from early 2011.

“We will start our international operations from October after we get our first Airbus aircraft,” said Managing Director M Thiagarajan.

The airline has ordered 10 Airbus aircraft and will have received all by the end of 2012, in a batch of 3-2-3-2 every quarter after October 2010.

Thiagrajan said the airline would start flying from Colombo, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. “We will add West Asian and African countries later on,” he said.

He said the airline would not have to face any competition from low-cost carriers flying to West Asia, as it would only cater to premier-class customers.

Paramount is the only airline in India to offer full business-class service at prices comparable to the normal economy class fares of other airlines and its international operation will also offer premier-class service.

The south-based carrier, which flies to 21 destinations across the country and has a market share of 1.5 per cent, plans to expand in the southern and eastern parts of the country.

The airline presently operates five planes — two Embraer 170 and three Embraer 175 — and plans to add eight more aircraft by the end of this financial year.

“With the addition of eight aircraft, our number of flights will go up to 100 a day from 52 now. We plan to increase our presence in the east and south and also frequency to Delhi,” said Thiagarajan.