GoAir's A320 neo plane begins commercial ops 

PTI

GoAir has put into operations its first fuel-efficient Airbus A320 neo plane, which it had inducted in the fleet last week, with the inaugural flight landing at city's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here from New Delhi, the airline said today.

The first A320 neo (new engine option) flight of GoAir, G8-336, arrived from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi international Airport at 16.20 hours on Wednesday, it said.

The arriving passengers were welcomed by the GoAir Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer along with senior officials from the European aircraft maker Airbus, engine maker Pratt & Whitney, GoAir said.

With the induction of the first of our 72 neo aircraft on order, GoAir has reached a fleet strength of 20 aircraft, Prock-Schauer said adding "With this expansion, we will be able to strengthen our domestic network and will also be available to fly on international routes." 

The Mumbai-based airline had, in June 2011, placed order for 72 new A320 neo aircraft, valued at about Rs 32,400 crore on list price, with the European aviation major Airbus.

GoAir, which commands 8.5 per cent market share in domestic traffic, plans to induct as many as eight A320neo planes, of the 72 on order, in the fleet by March next year.

GoAir is also the first airline to use this aircraft in Spaceflex configuration with 186 seats enabling better service and availability during peak seasons, without compromising on the comfort of the traveller, it said.

The airline in a gesture towards conserving water in the face of the drought and severe water shortage in parts of the country, decided not to accept the customary water canon salute to the new flight on its landing at Mumbai airport.

Globally, when an airline starts its operations to a particular airport or flies a new aircraft, a water canon welcome is given from two fire tenders when the plane lands at the destination airport.

The new A320neo incorporates a host of innovations, including latest generation engines and large Sharklet wing-tip devices, which provide for 15 percent saving of the fuel from day one and 20 per cent by 2020.