PTI
NEW DELHI, Mar 16: No-frill carrier GoAir plans to induct five more aircraft by March-end and expand its operations to South and the Northeast India.
The airline, owned by the Wadia family, is also focusing on its frequent flyer programme with a host of initiatives, including intensification of its operations on routes mostly in demand, GoAir Chief Executive Officer Edgardo Badiali said.
"We are evaluating different possibilities (of expanding operations) in the South and the Northeast. It will depend on the strength of the market, the available infrastructure, space and the costs," he said when asked whether they planned to establish a hub in any southern or northeastern states.
Asked about reports that the Wadia family wanted to sell some stake in the company, Badiali said "the decision will be that of the family... there is lot of interest from investors from different fields."
Regarding plans to establish operational hubs in different parts of the country, he mentioned the major metros of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, but said the decision-making process was still in the evaluation stage.
On the fleet expansion plans, Badiali said "we will be adding five aircraft by the end of this fiscal to take our fleet to 11 aircraft. Our induction plan is to have a 31-aircraft fleet by 2012. So we will be adding five to six aircraft (each year) from 2009 to 2012."
The entire fleet of GoAir comprises Airbus Industrie's most-sought after A-320 aircraft in an entire economy-class configuration.
With the expanding fleet, the airline wants to be first to consolidate its position on the existing routes and then add more destinations to its network, its CEO said. GoAir currently flies to 11 destinations.
Referring to initiatives to attract frequent fliers, he said an average of about 35-40 per cent of GoAir's passengers were repeat travellers. In some routes like Delhi-Mumbai, the percentage was over 60 per cent.
"We plan to target the small and medium business, besides the big corporate houses. They also are interested in controlling their cost of travel. So we are planning various offers focusing on such travel," Badiali said, announcing that GoAir's "attractive" frequent flyer programme would be finalised by this year end.
Besides printing advertisements behind the boarding cards to enhance revenue, GoAir plans to enhance its ancillary revenues by measures like a 'block-your-seat' service at an additional cost of Rs 25 only. "This is common in Europe where the customer decides which seat he or she wants."
Badiali said several IT initiatives were being taken in addition to 100 per cent e-ticketing, and tie-ups were being worked out for sale and distribution of products in flight.