Alliance Air mulls lease or purchase of 16 turbo-props
18 Apr 2007
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New Delhi: Alliance Air, the 100 per cent subsidiary of Indian, is mulling plans to either lease or purchase up to 16 turbo-prop aircraft to expand its operations. The airline is currently seeking information on the various types of 50-seater turbo prop-aircraft that are available and their likely delivery dates.
According to airline officials, all 16 aircraft could either be leased or the airline could go in for a mix of purchase and lease to meet its requirements. They also said that the airline plans to acquire the aircraft over the next 18 months.
In case of a purchase, it will be the first time since Alliance started operations in 1996 that the airline would be buying fresh aircraft. The airline currently operates a fleet of 17 aircraft that includes 11 Boeing 737, ATR 42 and Dornier aircraft.
Alliance is the fourth State-owned airline to enter the market for new aircraft after Indian, Air India and Air India Express, which have together ordered 111 brand new aircraft. The deals cumulatively are worth more than Rs30,000 crore.
