The Hindu Business Line : Paramount plans to buy 20 more aircraft

PARAMOUNT Airways is in advance stages of discussions with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for acquiring 20 more aircraft, the airlines Managing Director, Mr M. Thiagarajan, has said.

"We are also examining the possibility of inducting the larger and yet to be launched Embraer 195 aircraft. At the moment it is difficult to say how many of the new aircraft that we acquire will be the Embraer 195. However, a final decision on the acquisition is to be taken shortly," Mr Thiagarajan told Business Line.

The proposed induction of the Embraer 195 aircraft will help the airline offer slightly more seats per flight than it currently offers with the Embraer aircraft it operates.

The Embraer 195 is due to be certified during the second quarter of this year and is capable of carrying 108-118 passengers, while the Embraer 170/175, that Paramount operates at present, can carry between 70-90 passengers.

The airline, however, has no plans of acquiring larger aircraft although Boeing did make a presentation to it, said Mr Thiagarajan.

"The airline plans to have a fleet of 10 aircraft by the end of the year and double this by the end of next year.

Currently, we are focussing on routes in south India. Our plans include flying soon to every major city there except to Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchi," Mr Thiagarajan added.

The airline currently flies from Chennai to Delhi, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi and Madurai.

The airline, which offers a four-course gourmet meal to its passengers, also plans to provide audio-video system on demand to its flyers from next month onwards.