Alliance Air (India) (9I, Delhi International) is continuing to expand its offerings under India's regional connectivity scheme (known as UDAN) network, adding five routes last week, and with another two to start by the end of September, reports the Financial Express. The Air India (AI, Delhi International) subsidiary also plans to add eight ATR72 aircraft and hire more staff by end 1Q18, according to unnamed senior officials.

Since the end of August, Alliance has added flights from Chennai to Tiruchirapally, Vijayawada, Madurai, and Coimbatore, and will add Pathankot and Bikaner by the end of this month.

Other UDAN flights currently operated by Alliance include Delhi International – Gwalior, Indore – Gwalior, and Delhi – Shimla. The sources said it was too early to tell if the routes were profitable, but said that flight loads have been good.

"Our Delhi-Shimla flight has an occupancy level of 98-99% and other flights also have decent occupancy levels depending upon the period," one official said.

The airline is, however, expecting to report losses for the last reporting period. In a bid to cut costs, it plans to cut several loss-making routes. These include Delhi – Rajkot and Bhopal – Raipur.

In its current fleet, Alliance operates two ATR42-300s and eleven ATR72-600s on flights to thirty-four destinations throughout India.