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Indus Airways -- the origin of India By Deepak Arora NEW DELHI: The Indian economy is growing at a galloping pace. It grew a robust 8.1 percent in the April-June 2005 quarter from a year ago, lifted by strong manufacturing as well as services such as banking and tourism. India has become the second most favoured destination for investments. With the opening up of the aviation sector for the private sector, more and more airlines are planning to commence flights. New airlines that are planning to take to wings are Jeh Wadia's GoAir and Coimbatore-headquartered Paramount Airways. Another airline that is planning to commence operations by October-end is Indus Airways -- the origin of India. Indus is obtaining two 50-seater CRJ-200 from Lufthansa in the next couple of weeks with the buyback lease of five years. Three more CRJ-200s would join the fleet by the year-end, according to Brig Kapil Mohan, Chairman of Mohan Meakins. To expand its connectivity, the Chairman said the airline would purchase two 75-seater CRJ-700s and three Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2006 taking its strength to ten. Brig Kapil Mohan, who is also Chairman of Indus Airways and is the main promoter of the airline, said the actual date of the launch in October was being worked out with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and would be announced soon. Besides Brig Kapil Mohan, Indus Airways has three Directors on the Board including Mr Krishan Gopal Beri, who is Managing Director of M/s Beri and Beri Cold Storage and General Mills (P) Ltd; Mr Parminder Lakhanpal, a London-based NRI; and Mr Baldev Seth, a garment exporter. Mr Amarjit Sangha, a Toronto-based NRI, is one of the investors in the airline that has a starting equity base of Rs 10 crore. The airline plans to launch operations on two sectors. First being Delhi-Chandigarh-Mumbai-Jammu and return and the second sector being Delhi-Amritsar-Mumbai-Goa and return. "These are hitherto unconnected sectors and have a huge potential," he said. The CRJs would operate in a single class configuration and would be fitted with executive class seats. While foreign pilots would operate the aircraft, Indus Airways has sent several Indian pilots to Montreal for being trained on the CRJs. He said the airline would provide "very reasonable fares with best of frills." On the long-haul flights, he said the airline would provide good quality food for which we have hired some specialists. He said "it will be service with a smile." Brig Kapil Mohan, who is known is known as a doer, said "the airline has hired professionals to take the airline to new heights in the Indian aviation." He said the airline has hired two best aviators for its operations in Northern and Central and Southern India. Capt A P C Kapoor, ex-Director (operations) Air India and a senior Commander and instructor of Boeing 747-400, would be based in Mumbai and head the operations of Central and Southern India. Similarly, Capt M S Sandhu, ex-General Manager, Air India and Boeing 747 instructor, would be based in Chandigarh and head the operations of Northern India. Mr G S Bankoti, also ex-Air India, would look after Administration and Safety. The airline has also hired 10 foreign pilots and 10 Indian co-pilots, 20-cabin crew and 20 ground staff, and six engineers. Airline's full-fledged reservation system would be in place shortly, said Mr Krishan Gopal Beri and added that both the aircraft would be based in Delhi. Mr Beri said the emphasis would be on quality - be it food, service or in-flight comforts. He said there would also be emphasis on on-time performance and intelligent schedules. "In other words, a passenger could catch a flight early morning and return home by night after completing his task. That will also save him on his hotel bills." He said the company would offer honest and straightforward flat fares. Designed to provide superior efficiencies to small operators and major airlines alike, Mr Baldev Seth said the Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft has firmly established itself as the world's quietest and most environmentally friendly commercial jet aircraft. He said the aircraft's 50-seat capacity and low trip cost -- fuel burn is 10 per cent less than its nearest competitor -- allow airlines to provide jet services on routes where low load factors make larger jet aircraft unprofitable. Mr Seth said the Bombardier CRJ200 can extend the range from hub airports or bypass congested hubs for more non-stop services between cities in smaller markets. The aircraft complements some bigger jets by flying their routes at off-peak times of day, allowing airlines to maintain the all-important flight frequency. Mr Amarjeet Sangha said the 64- to 70- passenger Bombardier CRJ700 Series 701 and 75-seat Bombardier CRJ700 Series 705 are members of the highly successful Bombardier CRJ family of regional jets. Ever since entering service over a decade ago, the Bombardier CRJ has changed the way people travel. Today, more than 1,200 Bombardier CRJ aircraft fly with operators large and small all over the world. The first Bombardier CRJ100 was delivered to Lufthansa in 1992, after the initial flight in November 1991. In 1996, the Bombardier CRJ200 was launched with higher performance engines. The Bombardier CRJ700 made its maiden flight in May 1999 and was delivered to inaugural customer Brit Air/Air France in January 2001.
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