GoAir to expand fleet size to 35 by March 2011

Low-Cost-Carrier GoAir is expanding its fleet and operations. The airline has decided to scale up its fleet size to 35 by March 2011 from the existing strength of six aircraft. According to a report in today’s Economic Times (ET), the airline will add 20 aircraft by end of this year and later bring in another nine in the next two years. “The proposed expansion coupled with the declining crude and ATF prices will help the business break-even,” said a GoAir official. He however, did not disclose the investment required for the expansion. According to the ET report, industry experts stated that the company incurred ‘substantial losses’ last year.

The company source informed that GoAir is also looking at an alliance with foreign carriers to expand services and increase its market share to more than ten per cent from the existing 2.3 per cent. “The alliance will be for code sharing with Middle-East and Europe-based carriers,” stated the GoAir executive. The carrier has also increased the number of flights to over 900 in the winter season and operates across 11 destinations.