Sunday, March 13 2005 16:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kuala Lumpur: Indian private carrier Air Sahara, which will soon fly to Malaysia and neighbouring Singapore, has announced an ambitious five-year plan to triple its fleet and begin flights to lucrative Northeast Asia and New York.

The moves are in line with company president Rono J Dutta's vision of making Air Sahara "a quality airline and a global airline," the firms Singapore-based general manager for Southeast Asia, Koustav M Dhar, told sources in Kuala Lumpur in an interview.

"Five years down the road, we will have at least 40 to 50 aircraft, definitely," Dhar said.

"We will fly to most of the points in Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Southeast Asia will be our springboard for growth and we are coming in a big way."

Dhar was in Malaysia to promote the Indian carrier in conjunction with the three-day Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents fair which began on Friday (March 11, 2005).

Dhar said 11-year-old Air Sahara would begin its maiden flight to Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Changi Airport, Singapore in early May. Flights to Bangkok and Hong Kong would follow.

Rival Jet Airways, India's largest private airline, said last week it would launch daily roundtrip flights from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur using Boeing 737-800 aircraft beginning after April 25.

The Indian Government only recently allowed private carriers to fly overseas beyond the South Asia region.