Alhind Air Expands Fleet with A320s

International Expansion on the Horizon for Alhind Air

Alhind Air intends to use ATR-Avions de Transport Régional turboprops to begin domestic flights within India before the end of the year, according to Mohammed Haris Thattarathil, head of the Alhind Group. The airline intends to start international flights in two years, possibly with Airbus narrowbodies. He claims that starting an airline is a "natural progression" for the travel and tourist business in an interview with the publication Mathrubhumi.

"Our extensive network, customer base, and understanding of the sector have equipped us with the necessary foundation to operate an airline successfully," he stated.

"We believe that launching an airline will give us greater control over the travel experience we offer our customers, enabling us to deliver personalised and seamless journeys."

"We have implemented a comprehensive strategy that includes cost-effective fleet selection, efficient operations, and strategic partnerships," he stated.

"We have chosen the ATR72-600 as our initial fleet, known for its fuel efficiency and suitability for regional operations."

"As we expand our operations, we may consider adding larger widebody and narrowbody aircraft like the A319-100 and A320 types to accommodate longer-haul flights," he stated. "Our fleet expansion plans include acquiring more than 20 aircraft to qualify for international operations."

Before acquiring an air operator's certificate (AOC), Alhind Air obtained a no-objection certificate from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in August. The start-up, which has the support of Alhind Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd., a division of the Alhind Group, plans to use three ATRs to launch domestic services from Kochi International.

"Our initial investment in the airline venture is estimated to be between INR2 billion and INR5 billion rupees" (USD23.8-59.5 million)," Thattarathil said.

"We plan to gradually increase our investment to INR 30 billion [USD357 million], supporting our fleet expansion and operational growth. We will explore various financing options to fund this expansion, including equity, debt, and strategic partnerships."

According to Thattarathil, Alhind plans to "leverage" Kerala's four airports—Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode—to establish a domestic presence, using Kochi International as its base. Depending on demand, tourism, and the possibility of economic growth, the initial focus will be on South India before branching out to other regions and outside markets. He states that market conditions and regulatory permissions will determine the start dates.