Date:04/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/09/04/stories/2006090402040300.htm

Back IndiGo set to expand operations

Our Bureau

Co expects to break even after 18 months

Spreading out
The private airliner commenced operations barely four weeks ago.
The company currently employs about 450 people.
It has ordered for 100 planes and expects to add one plane a month.

Hyderabad , Sept. 3

IndiGo Airline, the latest liner to enter the aviation sector, is on an expansion drive and is set to link up Hyderabad and Chennai later this month with the addition of one more aircraft into its fleet.

The private airliner, which has ordered for 100 planes and commenced operations barely four weeks ago expects to add one plane a month and take its fleet to six by December 2006 and add nine more in 2007.

The President and CEO of IndiGo, Mr Bruce Ashby, said that the company currently employs about 450 people and expects to break even after about 18 months, which is the general period taken by a new entrant into the industry.

Speaking at the Indian Travel Congress here today, Mr Ashby said there are a few myths that seem to be discussed in the aviation sector about low cost airlines and sought to dispel them.

First, he said that despite congestion at airports a new player has managed to push his way through these airports and systems. Secondly, it is a myth that low-cost airlines are not prompt as they fly on time within four weeks of launch of their airliner.

Referring to the myth that credit card is not used for e-commerce, he said that their bookings reflect that 90 per cent of the purchases were made by using credit cards and about 46 per cent of the booking was over the Internet.