Garry Kingshott, an Australian national has been chosen to head JetLite, the new name for Air Sahara after Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal acquired the ailing carrier.
   The Acting Chief Executive of the new airline brings to this role over 31 years of corporate experience including 12 years in the airline industry.
    Mr KIngshott also holds the post of Chief Commercial Officer of Jet Airways to which he was appointed in March 2006. Garry Kingshott spoke to B S Arun on plans for the new carrier.
DH: It is reported that JetLite will be a value air. How this concept is different from the low cost airlines ?
GK: The term value-based airline (VBA) is an airline that customers perceive as offering value for money airline. The term VBA talks to the customer propositioning.
The term low cost carrier (LCC) refers to the operating cost of an airline and is a very inward looking airline.
JetLite will be the only LCC operating in India backed by the VBA. It will offer exceptional reliability, competitive value for money and efficiency that Jet Airways is known for.
DH: Why a customer should choose JetLite? What are you going to offer him that is different from others?
GK: Our plan is to rebrand Air Sahara as JetLite and fly it as a value-based airline operating point-to-point services within India and beyond.
Our vision is to offer value for money. It will ultimately operate in one class (economy).
Network will be developed to complement the Jet Airways destinations.
DH: Air Sahara had secured several international routes under its network. Will you continue to operate them and expand?   
GK: Yes, ours is an independent airline and we have to follow the Government requirement of 20 aircraft and five years of domestic experience (to fly international) which we have.
We have the intention to make our airline commercially feasible to operate internationally. We are already operating to Katmandu, Colombo and Male (the latter is temporarily suspended). We have Singapore and KL too. We are focussed on consolidating domestic market and we will also decide on our new international routes shortly.
DH: What about fleet expansion ?
GK: We are clear about the future shape of our fleet – they will all be Boeing 737 of single class configuration, all economy. With B737, we can only fly short-haul destinations of 4-5 hours from India. 
Air Sahara had ordered for 10  B737s. They will start arriving by 2009. Until then, we may get aircraft on lease or add some from Jet Airways.
We have launched JetLite from June 1, but we deliberately gave no big publicity.
DH: Any changes in livery, seats, uniform of cabin crew and ground staff ?
GK: Yes. We will convert all Sahara aircraft into new livery with new painting over the next one year. All these aircraft will be converted into all-economy planes.
DH: Several of the Sahara aircraft [aircraft] were grounded in the last few months. Are they airborne now?
GK: Sahara had 17 B737 and 7 CRJs (Bombardier regional jets) when we took over on April 24. Some of them were grounded for repairs and checks. Now we have on air 14 B737s and three CRJs. We will have all but one Boeing and all CRJs on air by end of June.
DH: There is a lot of interest on JetLite pricing. Airlines were critical of Sahara selling tickets at rock bottom prices and they hope now that you will rationalise fares.
GK: We are in business to make money. We are not here for charity. We want to run a profitable operation.
DH: So no Re 1 or Rs 99 tickets like your competitors?
GK: Highly unlikely. That is for Air Deccan, IndiGo and SpiceJet to offer.