Tata-SIA gets ready for proving passenger flights in September

By Mihir Mishra
NEW DELHI: Tata-SIA Airlines has told the aviation regulator that it would be ready to conduct a demonstration in September to prove that it can operate passenger flights, an official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

Its plan to carry out the proving flight in mid- or end-September means the joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines would miss its initial target to launch flight operations on September 1.

Tata-SIA representatives conveyed the plan on the proving flight to the DGCA on Monday. “They have told us that the proving flight can be conducted either in middle or end-September and they are expecting their first aircraft in the first week of September,” said the DGCA official. An airline spokesperson confirmed the development.

Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, owns a 51% stake in the joint venture to operate a full-service airline. Singapore Airlines holds the remaining 49%.

The airline plans to have a fleet of four aircraft by October and increase it to 20 over four years. The plane-induction plan would be expedited if the government lifts the requirement for airlines to operate at least five years in the domestic sector and have 20 aircraft to get licence to fly overseas.

An air operator’s permit, or flying licence, is issued after an airline successfully completes the proving flight. “The airline will have to operate flights between five city pairs and demonstrate that they can operate flights,” said the official.

If the airline gets its flying licence in September or October – that is within six months of applying for it – Tata-SIA will become one of the fastest to get the permit. It had applied for the permit on April 22, 2014 after receiving a no objection certificate from the civil aviation ministry on April 2, 2014. It took eight months for AirAsia India, in which the Tata Group owns 30%, to get a flying licence. That airline had applied for a flying licence in October last year and got it in May 2014.