Air Costa to operate pan-India flights from next year

The city-based regional carrier Air Costa today said it plans to go national from the first quarter of the next fiscal with focus on small towns.
The company, which has completed one year of operations, plans to induct four aircraft each year till it starts getting the deliveries of its own planes, Air Costa Chairman Ramesh Lingamaneni told reporters here.
"We are looking at operating pan-India flights from the first quarter of the next fiscal (April-June 2015). We already have initiated necessary process in this regard," Lingamaneni said.
However, the airline's focus will continue to be on small towns and cities, he said.

The company this week submitted its application for securing pan-India flying licence to civil aviation regulator DGCA, Air Costa Chief Financial Officer Vivek Choudhary said.
The DGCA last month extended the airline's regional operator permit for another four years, he said.

Started last October, Air Costa currently caters to nine destinations from its Vijayawada base with a fleet of four Embraer aircraft.
Lingamaneni said the carrier will induct four leased aircraft every year to cater to the proposed expansion plans.
Air Costa had earlier signed a 100 aircraft deal with Brazilian plane maker Embraer with 50 firm orders and another 50 on-option.