'We will have a global presence by 2015-16': Thiagarajan

Chetan Kapoor - Mumbai

M Thiagarajan Managing director, Paramount Airways

Chennai-based Paramount Airways is on an expansion mode as it continues to get 40 more Embraer aircraft by 2010. In a conversation with Express AviationWorld, M Thiagarajan, managing director, Paramount Airways said, "We are the market leader in South India and will be adding two more Embraer aircraft in April-May and enter western India in May-June with Pune and Goa and further consolidate in western India." The city of Pune will be connected with Chennai first, followed by Bangalore while Goa with Bangalore and further expanded to Chennai and Cochin.

Furthermore, by early 2009 the airline plans to enter the north Indian and the north eastern territories. "By 2010, we would have a national presence and will get 40 more Embraer aircraft till then. We will focus on one region, saturate and dominate before moving to other region like we did in the South," he remarked. According to him, once the airline flies out of Mumbai as well, the same strategy will be replicated as in the south.

With a current fleet size of seven Embraer aircraft with an all-business and first class configuration, the two year old airline has a unique business model and choice of aircraft as compared to other airlines in the country and as 2010 approaches, the carrier also has its eyes set on international skies. "We wanted to establish the brand before expansion even within the country and with our international plans we will always be a premium product offering only first and business class products when we enter Europe, the Far East and it will be a matter of fact before we fly the United States as well. We will have a global presence by 2015-16," he informed. To achieve this, Paramount Airways will appoint GSAs on a global basis including the Far East, the Middle East and also Europe by the first quarter next year. The airline has placed orders with Airbus and Boeing for its international operations.

The carrier is also in talks with other airlines for code-sharing and interline agreements, which will be in place between April-June 2008 and is also setting up an MRO and hangar in Chennai besides strengthening aviation training further. "In terms of other expansion plans we are seriously working on having a travel division by around September this year and were also thinking about investing in the hospitality sector, but nothing in the immediate future," said Thiagarajan.