05.09.2023 - 00:34 UTC
The government of Karnataka in southwestern India is considering launching its own airline to improve intrastate and regional connectivity, the state’s industries and infrastructure development minister MB Patil revealed on September 1, having discussed the matter with local carrier Star Air (India) (S5, Belgaum).
Patil said at a news conference that he had spoken with the owner and founder of Star Air, Sanjay Ghodawat, who he knows personally, to find out approximately how much starting such an airline would cost.
“As per his assessment, it costs INR2 billion rupees [USD24.2 million] to procure one new plane, and if we want to buy three then it’s INR6 billion [USD72.6 million]. He explained that if we lease the planes it would be much cheaper, but for a government INR6 billion is not such a big amount. We are considering the possibilities,” the official said, as quoted by the Times Of India and the Hindustan Times.
He was speaking the day after IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) operated its first flight from Bangalore International to...
03.08.2023 - 03:59 UTC
Indian commuter airline Star Air (India) (S5, Belgaum) has secured 40 new routes under the Indian government's Ude Desh ka Aam Naagri (UDAN) RCS scheme that subsidises carriers to operate specific regional routes.
"Star Air plans to launch these routes and expand its operations significantly," reads a Star Air statement on the matter, adding that as a result, the airline will start flying to "seven or eight" new airports. ch-aviation has contacted Star Air for specific details on the new routes awarded.
The current round of subsidised route allocations, including routes handed to startup Fly91 (Goa Dabolim), is known as UDAN 5.0, the fifth round of allocations in the now seven-year-old program, which is a core part of the government's National Civil Aviation Policy. UDAN not only subsidises flights, but it is also putting capital into building and/or redeveloping regional airports, with the overall goal of adding 1,000 regional routes within India and putting scheduled services into 50 currently unserved regional airports.
Starting operations in 2019, Star Air now flies to...
19.05.2023 - 01:14 UTC
Star Air (India) (S5, Belgaum) has deployed the first of four E175LRs into revenue service, with VT-GSI (msn 17000782) debuting on the Bangalore International - Hyderabad International - Jamnagar route on May 13. CEO Singh Tiwana says the successful induction of the aircraft type sets a new standard for regional travel in India.
Star Air, which is owned by the Sanjay Ghodawat Group, is a regional airline set up in 2019. To date, it has operated E145 stock, namely one EMB-145LI and four EMB-145LRs. Last year, Star Air signed agreements to lease the four E170s, acquired on leases from Nordic Aviation Capital. Star Air says the type will address the need for more capacity, improve the passenger experience, expand its regional network, and connect to more places across India.
VT-GSI was ferried into Bangalore in February. Since then, a second E170 has arrived. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module identifies this aircraft as VT-CSJ (msn 17000852). "We are connecting slightly longer routes which are the best connected...
15.02.2023 - 00:45 UTC
Star Air (India) (S5, Belgaum) has received the first of four E175 family aircraft it signed leases for in 2H 2022. The airline made the announcement via its social media accounts on February 8, 2023. The aircraft is registered as OY-YEE (msn 17000782). Built in 2019, OY-YEE flew for Belavia (B2, Minsk National) before going into storage in November 2021. The aircraft goes to Star Air (India) on a lease from Nordic Aviation Capital.
Star Air (India) launched domestic passenger ops in 2019 using a single EMB-145LR. It has since expanded to five aircraft - four E145LRs and one EMB-145LI. The airline flies to 18 destinations within India. At the 2022 Farnborough Air Show, the airline signalled its growth plans by signing a firm letter of intent to dry lease a pair of E175s from Nordic. OY-YEE is being ferried to India this week and a Star Air (India) spokesperson told ch-aviation that the aircraft will be re-registered after landing in India
In early January, Star Air (India)...
Editorial Comment: Corrected title to say E175 as opposed to E170 - 16.02.2023 - 06:20 UTC
