IndiGo gets govt nod to launch international operations

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Premier no-frill carrier IndiGo,which recently placed the world''s largest aircraft order, hasreceived government nod to launch international operations andwould fly to Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai and Muscat soon afterit completes five years of domestic operations in August.

The airline, which bagged the second position afterJet Airways in terms of the number of passengers, gotpermission for launching international operations from theforthcoming summer schedule, which begins in April andcontinues till October-November.

An airline spokesperson said today that the flights wouldbe operated from several Indian cities to Singapore, Bangkok,Dubai and Muscat.

However, "the schedules and dates for the launch of theseinternational services will be announced in the comingmonths", she added.

The criteria for permission to launch internationaloperations is that the airline should complete five years ofdomestic operations and have a 20-aircraft fleet.

Sources said the first global flight would be launchedas soon as IndiGo completes five years of domestic operationsin August this year and added that it could also be matchedwith the fifth anniversary celebration.

Preparations are on in full swing, they said.

A company statement said, "IndiGo is delighted to receivethese important traffic rights and is grateful to the Ministryof Civil Aviation for approving its application in a timelymanner."

With its fleet of 34 new Airbus A-320 aircraft, theairline, which now has a market share of 18.6 per cent that ismore than Air India''s and matches that of Kingfisher, offers221 daily flights connecting 24 destinations.

The airline was recently in spotlight when it placed theworld''s largest aircraft order of 150 planes with Europeanmanufacturer Airbus. A year before beginning operations in2008, it had also placed the biggest order of 100 aircraftfrom the same manufacturer.