Air Pegasus seeks DGCA's nod to import two ATR planes

The regional carrier plans to induct the aircraft in its fleet by the end of the fiscal

Regional carrier Air Pegasus has sought the aviation regulator DGCA's approval to import two ATR planes, which it intends to induct in the fleet by the end of the current financial year.

“We already have two 66-seater ATR planes in the fleet. We have recently filed an application to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation requesting it to allow us leasing of two more ATRs," the carrier’s managing director, Shyson Thomas told PTI. 

The Bengaluru-based regional airline had commenced operations in April last year. It currently has two 66-seater aircraft by French-Italian manufacturer ATR in its fleet.

The airline will also submit its network expansion plans to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) once the permission for leasing of the two planes is in place, Thomas added.

The airline had earlier applied to the Civil Aviation Ministry for permission to import the aircraft, he said, adding "after the ministry delegated such powers to the DGCA, we had to submit papers to the DGCA afresh."

Promoted by ground-handling services provider Decor Aviation, Air Pegasus is among the three regional airlines currently operating in the country. Vijaywada-based Air Costa and Hyderbad-based Trujet are the other two.

Thomas said the airline was also finalising route and service expansion plans, which would be executed after the two aircraft are inducted in the fleet.

Air Pegasus at present operates over 50 weekly services to Hubballi, Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai, Mangaluru, Chennai, Kadapa and Madurai from its base Bengaluru. It also plans to scale up its services to connect Tuticorin, Belagavi, Rajahmundry and Puducherry.

Since the launch of its services, the carrier has flown a total of 1.37 lakh passengers till December 2015.