Cosmic Air To Expand Operations To Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata

Jyoti Koul - New Delhi

Having just introduced flights from Nepal to India, Cosmic Air, one of the biggest domestic airlines of Nepal, as part of the expansion plans of its India operations, has appointed Suhrit Services Pvt Ltd as its GSA in India. By February 2005, the airline will introduce five flights a week to Mumbai. It will also launch seven flights to Varanasi and Lucknow to tap the leisure and Buddhist travel segment from Nepal to India. In its second phase of expansion, the airline will start operations to Bangalore and Kolkata in the first half of 2005. The airline is also contemplating operations on the Delhi-Kathmandu-Bangkok route.

The airline currently operates 14 flights a week between Delhi and Kathmandu and has invested US$ 50 million in this cross-border expansion.

In an exclusive interview over the phone with Express Travel and Tourism, Captain R P Pradhan, executive chairman, Cosmic Air, said, "The idea is to tap the huge Indian market. India is a convenient market because between India and Nepal there are no borderline issues, currency is not a problem and both the countries share cultural and religious similarities. Therefore, it was a viable option to introduce our airline in India."

The airline has set itself a revenue target of US$ 25 million in the first two years of its India operations. Currently, the airline is recording 75 per cent load factor and is operating 105-seater Fokker 100 aircraft.

Also, Cosmic Air has introduced a promotional fare by which a Delhi-Kathmandu ticket is priced at Rs 2,700 plus tax and Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi costs Rs 5,000 plus tax. But on a normal fare, 'buy one ticket and get one ticket free' is the offer. "This free ticket is transferable and can be used for any leg of the Kathmandu-Delhi-Kathmandu sector. All tickets must be purchased by December 31, 2004 and the booking is valid for one year. These fares are not only affordable but offer value for money." informed Pradhan.