New low-cost carrier Indus Airways
NRI's Group and Mohan Meakins chief Kapil Mohan, floated Indus Airways

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 14, 2005
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

After UB's Vijay Mallya, Mohan Meakins chief Kapil Mohan became the second liquor czar to step into the airline business with his new low-cost carrier Indus Airways. Mohan on Friday announced the launch of his budget airline with an investment of Rs 100 crore. The airline, floated together with a group of NRIs, is set to take-off in April.

The airline would initially be positioned as a feeder carrier connecting smaller towns in the country. "In a phased manner, we will have a nation-wide network," he said.

"The company has got all the necessary clearances and is now awaiting a final nod from the ministry of civil aviation," he added. The airline will start regional services with five 50-seater Embraer RJ-145 aircraft that would be taken on lease. Officials said negotiations are also underway to purchase 5 new aircraft.

"However, the frills of flying would not be withdrawn," a senior airline official said.

Using Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar as its bases, Indus Airways would connect towns like Jammu, Shimla, Srinagar and some other north Indian cities. Later, it would start operations to other metros like Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Apart from Mohan, other board members are Krishna Gopal Beri of Beri & Beri cold storage and General Mills, London-based NRI P Lakhanpall and Baldev Seth.

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