Paramount Airways connects Trichy; to go international by 2011

Tiruchirapalli, June 30 (UNI) This temple town of Tiruchirapalli is the latest addition on the map of Paramount Airways, as the private airliner launched its inaugural flight from here to Chennai today.

Tamil Nadu Transport Minister K N Nehru launched the inaugural flight at a colourful function, held at the airport here in the presence of Paramount Airways Managing Director M Thiagarajan and other officials.

With this, the Airways, which had five aircraft in its fold (all Embraers with a seating capacity of 70 to 80), would be operating 1,500 flights every year, covering all South Indian destinations.

Talking to a group of visiting reporters who were part of the inaugural flight, Mr Thaigarajan said Tiruchirapalli was the airlines' ninth destination.

On launching evening flights on the Chennai-Tiruchirapalli sector, he said due to shortage of CISF personnel, manning the airport, it could not be operated now.

Intervening, Mr Nehru, who was also present, said the State Government had taken up with the Centre and Union Ministers A Raja and Radhika Selvi the need for strengthening the CISF strength, which would pave the way for operating more flights. The proposal would be cleared in a week's time and the CISF strength would be enhanced to 125 from the present 57.

''Lack of air connectivity from Tiruchirapalli is the prime reason for IT companies not starting their operations here. Once the evening operations are launched, it would be a big boon for the IT companies, who have already booked spaces for their operations,'' he said.

Mr Thaigarajan said Paramount would be entering Western India next month by introducing a direct flight from Chennai to Pune.

''By the end of this year, Mumbai will be connected to provide connectivity to West and the South, besides providing intra-connectivity in the Western region''.

The Airways would be having 30 aircraft in the next two years.

''At present we have five aircraft. We will be adding two each in August and October,'' he added.

''By 2010, Paramount will include North and North East in its connectivity before going international in 2011, for which the airline was holding talks for purchasing widebodied aircraft like AirBus 350 and Boeing 787,'' he said.

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