Gurgaon-based Zoom Air is all set to launch its first flight on February 12 from Delhi to Durgapur. The new airlines will begin operations with Bombardier CR-J200 LR series twin-engine jet aircraft with 50 premium seats in 2x2 layout. This particular series of aircraft is already being operated in India by Club One Air, the charter airlines based in Delhi. Globally, the Bombardier CR-J200 are used by regional and business jet operators. Zoom Air is being positioned as a full-service airline that will serve complementary meals on-board. Zoom Air is promoted by Zexus Air Services, a company registered in Delhi.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju is scheduled to flag off the airline's inaugural flight from Delhi to Durgapur on Sunday (February 12).
For the first flight, Zoom Air will connect Delhi with Durgapur in West Bengal. It is expected to operate daily multiple flights to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. On its website, the company says it will connect Delhi with 16 cities including Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Amritsar, Allahabad, Udaiput, Jaisalmer, Surat, Vizag, Aizawl, Shilong, and Jorhat among others.
"From New Delhi, Zoom Air will daily connect Aizawl, Aurangabad, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Dimapur, Durgapur, Hyderabad, Jorhat, Kolkata, Mumbai and Shillong in Phase —1 of expansion," says the company
The chief executive of Zoom Air is Koustav M Dhar, a veteran in hospitality and aviation sector. Till recently, Dhar was the CEO and President, overseeing Harmonie Aircraft Company, a US-based conglomerate. Dhar has also been associated with Jagson Airlines, MDLR Airlines and the erstwhile Air Sahara.
The company is advertising for openings across a dozen areas including pilots, engineers, cabin crew, and related departments. Here the what the airline says on its website: "Zoom Air, India’s newest National Scheduled Full service Commuter airline operating fleet a Bombardier CRJ-200 are keen to accept applications from Professional Airline dreamers like us……who is very sure that other than flying…they want to do nothing. Well unfortunately some people need to be on Ground too to manage the Airport, ensure the Maintenance is done well and seats are sold. For those who dreams to be with the new Airline, an Equal opportunity employer, and recruitments done only directly with the Airline and try to make their dreams come true with ours, please apply and be the part of the Team," it said.
The launch of Zoom Air comes at a time when all the existing operators are looking at taking advantage of the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). As part of the new National Civil Aviation Policy, the government had proposed a fare cap of Rs 2500 per one hour of flight. RCS also talks of viability gap funding in order to promote air connectivity to smaller towns. According to the civil aviation ministry there are a total of 394 un-served airports and 16 under-served airports in the country, which would be upgraded by AAI in due course.
BW Reporters
Ashish Sinha is an experienced business journalist who has covered FMCG, auto, infrastructure, tourism, telecom among several other beats. Ashish has keen interest in the regulatory scenario impacting different sectors. He writes on aviation, railways, post and telegraph, infrastructure, defence, media & entertainment, among a wide variety of other subjects.
