India's low cost carrier 'GoAir' is preparing to launch its overseas operations with flights from Mumbai to Thailand and Maldives in the winter schedule, according to Indian media reports.
International traffic from India is growing at about nine per cent and rival low-cost carriers are increasing frequencies or launching new routes to cater to this demand.
At present, there are no direct flights from Phuket to India, and Male is linked only to cities in south India and Delhi.
GoAir became eligible to launch international services last year when it inducted its 20th aircraft. However, the launch has been postponed because of delay in deliveries of the Airbus A320neo planes.
"GoAir is doing route proving for Mumbai-Maldives (Male). While they have not indicated a firm date, GoAir has given first week of February as the tentative time for starting that flight," a senior DGCA official was quoted by the 'Times of India.'
GoAir was launched in 2005 around the same time as IndiGo, SpiceJet and now-defunct Kingfisher. While its contemporaries started flying overseas almost as soon as they complied with the now abolished rule of completing five years in service and having 20 planes in their fleet, GoAir was conservative in fleet expansion and in venturing abroad.
