Zoom Air to dry lease Bombardier jet from Club One Air

Gurgaon-based scheduled air operator Zoom Air has signed an initial pact with luxury business jet operator Club One Air to dry lease regional jet Bombardier.

This is the first time a domestic carrier will lease out an aircraft to compatriot firm, Club One Air claimed in a release today.

As per the agreement, Club One Air will dry lease a Bombardier CRJ 200 plane to Zoom air, the release said.

As on February, Zoom Air had a fleet of three CRJ 200s, according to the DGCA website.

The induction of the new aircraft in the fleet will help Zoom Air launch new flight services under the regional connectivity scheme, Udan.

"We believe this agreement will play an important role in promoting the prime minister's ambitious regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN," said Rajan Mehra, chief executive officer, Club One Air.

Zoom Air currently has 10 aircraft in the fleet, with four of them Dassault-made Falcon 2000s.

Most airlines prefer to lease their planes from firms outside India but with this agreement, both Indian companies will now be able to share the benefits, the release added.

"With this agreement, we become the largest operators of Bombardier CRJ aircraft in India. We are proud to be associated with Club One Air. We will go ahead with our plans to connect more and more domestic cities, as the regional connectivity scheme moves forward," said Koustav Dhar, chief executive officer, Zoom Air.

Zexus Air Services-run Zoom Air has been awarded six networks and 12 routes under RCS-2.

As part of its expansion plans, it aims to extensively connect north-east India under the scheme.