TruJet, the Hyderabad based regional carrier, operating with five ATR turboprop aircraft has sustained against the tide in the last few years. The airline has three-fourths of its flight operations under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) and has been one of the few success stories of UDAN, while others like Air Odisha, Air Deccan and Zoom Air have either closed down or suspended and are back in limited capacity only.
The airline is little known and has been shadowed even at its hub Hyderabad where domestic market leader IndiGo – now bases more ATRs than the entire fleet of TruJet. While the airline might have losses on its books, it is at a crossroad like few others in the past. TruJet’s future will define how regional airlines can sustain or if they can at all sustain or not. There is a lot at stake for the government as well as airports and not just the carrier. TruJet has the opportunity to be a case study for successful regional operations or be another carrier which couldn’t scale beyond five years.
The airline started operations in July 2015 with two aircraft. The airline has a scheduled regional carrier permit and operates under the Scheduled Commuter Operating Permit. It has largely been looked at as the airline which goes to places where no other airline flies, for its route network comprises places like Salem, Vidyanagar, Jalgaon and others where it is the only airline and has thus contributed to the Prime Minister’s dream project of having 100+ operational airports. If not for TruJet, these airports will cease to function.
Most of the routes operated by TruJet are either monopoly or duopoly. The airline bid a high number of routes in the first phase of UDAN which had a condition of exclusivity and that has led to it having such a large number of monopoly routes. However, it tried vacating a large number of routes that saw heavy competition which put it at a disadvantage.
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Cruising Heights.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Cruising Heights.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New Terminal for Dehradun
The newly constructed terminal building at Dehradun Airport was officially inaugurated on February 14, representing a significant step forward in enhancing infrastructure and connectivity in the northern state.
Gearing up for Propulsive Efficiency ROLLS
Aero-engine manufacturers are accelerating the development of next-generation powerplants for commercial aviation. A special report
Mission Gaganyaan: ISRO gets back to work
The Indian human spaceflight programme has the potential to create an all-new aerospace ecosystem for setting up associated industries, boosting thousands of MSMEs in the sector and creating at least 15,000 jobs for Indian youth related to the domain. An in-depth report
Greenwash or Sustainability?
As the pressure to reduce their carbon footprint grows on airlines, the industry grapples with a complex set of options with no clear visible goal in sight. As things stand, the 2050 zero carbon goal seems pretty elusive.
Air Power and India's Northeast
India’s Northeast is being connected to the rest of India as never before. With the operationalisation of Hollongi Airport in Arunachal Pradesh state's capital of Itanagar, every state in the region is now connected with the rest of India. A report on the region and its aviation potential.
The real regional CONTENDERS
ATR and Embraer are bullish on market prospects for their regional transport aircraft A Special report
WINGS INDIA FLIES
The 2024 edition of Wings India conducted in February in Hyderabad saw the participation of all the industry heavyweights. There were a few orders and some interesting announcements. A Special report.
A321XLR: Likely delay in delivery!
Touted as a game-changer that could see single-aisle long-haul travel, the A321XLR has hit a roadblock in the form of regulatory issues surrounding its additional fuel tank that was to be fused directly into the fuselage. Added to that are supply chain woes. When all that was settled came news that the certification process has extended the timeline, with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledging that the process is taking longer than initially anticipated. The aircraft could now see a delay in the entry for service with the timeline moving to likely late 2024. An insight into the developments.
New Terminal for Dehradun
The newly constructed terminal building at Dehradun Airport was officially inaugurated on February 14, representing a significant step forward in enhancing infrastructure and connectivity in the northern state.
Gearing up for Propulsive Efficiency
Aero-engine manufacturers are accelerating the development of next-generation powerplants for commercial aviation. A special report