IndiGo to expand international operations

Low-cost air-carrier IndiGo Airlines has said it will allocate almost 16 per cent of its fleet capacity forinternational operations by March and ruled out any hike in fares in the nearterm.

"By next March, that is the first six months of ourinternational operations, we will be dedicating 15-16 per cent of our totalaircraft capacity to international operations," IndiGo President AdityaGhosh said on the sidelines of a Ficci-IBA summit on Wednesday.

"Hopefully, this would be profitable too. By nextMarch, we should have about 55 aircraft," he added.

When asked whether the airline plans to hike fares in therun-up to the festive season, Ghosh replied in the negative.

"I don't believe in fare hikes. I just believe in lotsmore people flying and being a profitable airline," he said.

On the rationale for entering international routes, Ghoshsaid he sees "massive" demand in these markets.

"Not a single Indian low-fare carrier flies throughthese routes. So we see a massive demand and a gap in these markets. We hope torepeat the same thing that we have done in the domestic sector in these marketstoo: keeping our offering simple and offering low fares," Ghosh said.

"We believe there is a demand for international travelout of the country. As long as demand is there, we will chase that market,whether it is domestic or international," he said.

Ghosh also said the low-cost carrier will be deployingA-320s on its international routes.

The airline is currently operating on the Delhi-Dubai,Mumbai-Dubai, Delhi-Singapore and Mumbai-Muscat routes.

"Basically, we are going to look at South-East Asia andthe Middle East as our territory. That's why Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and Muscat will be our first few sectors, as thereis a large Indian population in these markets," Ghosh said.

He also hinted at connecting these international marketswith major Southern markets, beginning with Kerala.

"We would love to add one or two more flights on thesame sector. And then probably add Jeddah and Kathmanduto this. It is the Middle East, South-East Asia and Asia(that will be our priority)," he added.

At a time when the aviation industry is witnessing growth inattrition levels, Ghosh said the trend is non-existent as far as IndiGo isconcerned.

"We are going to create 1,000 more jobs in the next oneyear. Our focus is on more job opportunities," he said, adding that thereis no attrition at all now.

"My attrition rate currently is down to zero," hesaid.