Talking to reporters here after the launch of Paramount's fourth flight in the Chennai-Madurai sector on Monday evening, the company's Managing Director M Thiagarajan said the airline would try to provide maximum number of services across the cities in the western region.
However, he did not divulge the names of the cities the airline would serve in the region.
"By early 2010, we will have a national presence," he added.
Paramount will induct 15 more Brazilian made 70-seater Embraer 170/175 and 110-seater Embraer 195 aircrafts in phases within the next 36 months, he said.
The carrier already owns five Embraer 170/175 aircrafts and connects eight destinations in South India through 50 daily flights.
Though a newcomer in the aviation sector, the airliner carries an average 100 tonnes of cargo daily, he said.
Paramount will also launch its services to Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu and Kozhikode in Kerala soon.
"Our efforts to provide cost-effective excellence will continue in the forthcoming services also," Thiagarajan said.
The Embraer aircraft with "lower maintenance costs, greater speed and lesser fuel consumption," contribute in cutting flying costs, he claimed.
On the high Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices in India, he said the taxes on the fuel should be rationalised.
The sales tax varied from one State to the other from 23-30 per cent. The customs and excise duties were also higher, he said.
"Despite India being an ATF surplus country, the prices are much higher compared to international prices and the fuel expenses account to over 30 per cent of the total flying costs," he said.
The Federation of Indian Airlines, an association of domestic carriers, has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to lower the taxes on ATF.
"If the tax rates come down, we will be able to lower our ticket charges from 15 to 20 per cent," he added.
Apart from rationalisation of tax, he also wanted the coming Union Budget to provide continuation of withholding taxes on lease payments of aircraft.
Paramount Airways is promoted by the Paramount Group, leading textile manufacturer based in Madurai.
1 comment:
PARAMOUNT AIRWAYS PREFERS HINDI SPEAKERS ONLY
When Paramount Airways was introduced, every one might have been exited that for the first time airline based out of Tamil Nadu was started. There was also expectation that the aviation sector in Tamil Nadu would improve. For a long time Bangalore was the only headquarters for all airline. TamilNadu was a desert of aviation enterprise ever since Air Asiatic wound up.
There was also reports of Tamil newspapers inflight abort Paramount, which would have attracted exitement in the emotional TN market.
To tell the truth Paramount Airways is no different from they claim to be. They are just part of the Hindi-speaking herd which are based in Tamil Nadu only in name.
THeir vacancies within Tamil Nadu DO NOT care for knowledge of Tamil but require Hindi. Speaking Tamil is considered shameful in India's aviation industry. Speaking Hindi is actual considered good etiquette. Paramount Airways has also shown this preference.
They barely link 3 of the busiest airports in Tamil Nadu, which others like Air Deccan have already been doing.
The only thing Paramount Airways is unique is that they are the most expensive.
To sum it up, being an expensive airline which at the end of the day you get the usual English and Hindi only treatment, you would rather pick others for less.
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