The airline, which began operations in March, 2007, has embarked on an ambitious expansion plan which includes connecting Goa besides other Tier-II cities. The ministry introduced a separate category of permit for  ‘Scheduled Operator Permit for Regional Airlines (RAs)’ in August, last year. 

Along with MDLR Airlines, a Dubai-based NRI has also been given the licence for operating a low-cost regional airline in India. Called Star Aviation, this carrier is likely to begin services by mid-2008 in South India with a fleet of four ATRs (small aircraft). Other applicants under this category include Chennai-based Air Dravida, Bangalore-based Trans India Aviation Limited and Delhi-based Jagson Airlines. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald on the plans of the MDLR Airlines, its senior vice president Nupur Mehta said the carrier, which is already flying from Delhi to Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jodhpur as well as from Kolkata to Ranchi, may connect Ludhiana, Amritsar, Lucknow and Kullu shortly. 

The carrier, which currently has three Avro RJ-70 jets in its fleet, will get its fourth and fifth Avros by middle of February while it scouts for more aircraft to expand its services. “We are looking at ATRs and Boeings”, she said, observing that if orders are placed now, the planes would be inducted by 2011.

Vegetarian fare

MDLR’s Avros have 70 seats with six in executive class and 64 in economy. The airline, part of the MDLR group of companies involved in real estate and infrastructure, offers only vegetarian food. 
As per the regional airline concept, to qualify for the permit, the applicant company should undertake operations primarily between airports of any of the four regions – North, South, West and East/North East.
Towards this purpose, the metro airports would be Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.