JOIN USLow-cost carrier, operated by Turbo Megha Airways, which recently received approval from the DGCA, will undertake full-fledged services from July 26.
The airline, promoted by former Congress MP and actor K Chiranjeevi’s son and actor Ram Charan Tej, has two 72-seater ATR 72-500 aircraft obtained on dry lease from an Irish company, and hopes to acquire five aircraft in total in a phased manner.
According Turbo Megha Airways Director Prem Kumar, the promoters have so far invested Rs 500 crore in the venture and expect to break even in the next 3-4 years of time.
The airline, which has an agreement for maintenance with the GMR airports MRO at Shamsabad airport here, will have its own Component MRO in place at a cost of Rs 20 crore, which will be operational by the end of this year.
In terms of routes and destinations, the airline is targeting a wide range of places. “Initially, the airline will offer its service towards linking Rajahmundry with Hyderabad, Tirupati and Chennai to meet the Godavari Pushkaram time. From July 26 onwards, we will operate flights from Hyderabad linking Tirupati, Aurangabad and Rajahmundry,” Managing Director and co-promoter V Umesh told reporters here.
Ram Charan Tej added that the new airline will offer 10 per cent rebate on basic ticket fare for senior citizens, and South Indian movie fraternity, and 10 seats for students under 18 years of age in each flight, while the base fare is fixed at Rs 1,499. “Unlike other cost-conscious airlines, we are also offering free meals for all our passengers,” he added. The airline is also offering free pick-up and drop for passengers of Shirdi, Chittoor and Nellore to their nearest airport.