Alliance to induct regional jets, pilots

New Delhi: Alliance Air is finally cruising forward on plans to turn itself into a low-cost airline. Alliance, the feeder airline subsidiary of Indian Airlines, has floated tenders to induct six regional jets that would operated under this new business model on non-metro routes.
In addition to the aircraft, Alliance Air has sought around 20 pilots and as many engineers to operate and maintain these aircraft in India. “Since it is a totally new aircraft type that will be inducted in to the Alliance Air fleet, we have sought to induct some pilots and engineers for operating these jets,” an airline official said.
The airline plans to induct only those aircraft which are less than five years old as part of an effort to reduce the average age of its fleet. Alliance, officials said, will outsource any major maintenance work on these 70-seater aircraft rather than build an engineering capability.
17/11/06 Byas Anand/Times of India