2 airlines eye Vizag biz, Air Arabia & Air Costa keen to launch services from Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Feb 26, 2014:  Sharjah based international carrier, Air Arabia and newly launched regional airlines, Air Costa, are ready to operate flights from Vizag and are waiting necessary permissions from the government departments concerned.

At a time when state is divided and focus has now shifted towards the development of residuary state, Air Arabia’s flight services from Vizag would boost the pharma and fisheries exports to Gulf and Middle East and promote local tourism.

Air Arabia operates to more than 85 countries including Russia. Air Costa is planning to launch services to Banglore and Hyderabad most likely in April second week.

“We are awaiting necessary permissions from DGCA and other aviation agencies to operate flights from Vizag. Most likely we may launch services from the second week of April to Hyderabad and Banglore. We are very keen on Vizag, which has potential,” Air Costa representative Pramod Kumar told this correspondent.

Currently, the Vijayawada based, low cost airlines, operates Embraer E-170 and E-190 jets to Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.

Now that the Vizag airport is open 24x7, many international airlines are interested in connecting Vizag to their circuit. Already Air India operates flight to Dubai and Silk Airways to Singapore thrice a week. Both international flights reached the target of 70 percent load factor.

 “Its not just passenger traffic but Air Arabia’s flight launch would definitely boost the local economy by the exports of fish and pharma products. Vizag has many pharma manufacturing units and good fishing activity.  Cargo moment will go up to Gulf.  We operate a flight from Nagpur from where pharma exports to Gulf go by our flights.  Besides, exports, Vizag tourism can also be promoted in countries like Russia. We are ready to operate flights to Sharjah that connects many international destinations and waiting allocations from the government,” Air Arabia, Area Manager (India), Sachin Nane told this newspaper.

 Air Arabia has done a survey in Vizag and its vicinity and basing on the results, the international air carrier has shown interest to fly from Vizag.  Air Arabia is ready to operate flight daily to Sharjah such is the potential we have found here, Sachin added.