Gurgaon-based MDLR Airlines that halted its operations last year is planning to make a comeback. The regional carrier has sought approval of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to import two BAE Avro RJs to restart regional services in northern states. DGCA is likely to approve the proposal with some conditions relating to aircraft insurance, payments to travel agents, pilots and staff that had left the airline last year and acquisition of five aircraft within one year of starting operations under civil aviation rules. 

“The DGCA is going to allow it to restart its operations. The airline had shut down its operations in October 2009 without prior notice. It is allowed to renew its license within two years. The airline has now expressed interest to restart flights to northern cities,” said an official from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). 

MDLR Airlines is a part of MDLR Group which has business interests in hotels, shopping malls and infrastructure. The airline had started charter operations in April 2007. Initially, it had leased two 70-seater BAE RJ-70 aircraft with four engines from British Aerospace to offer services with both Business and Economy Class. In December 2007, the airline got a license to operate scheduled flights from various cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kolkata and Ranchi. In August 2008, it announced that it would stop flying scheduled flights and in October 2009, it stopped its charter operations. The company had originally planned to have a fleet size of 35-40 aircraft by 2010. 

All plans were put on hold following the slowdown and lower margins in the sector. MoCA official said that with the market picking up now, MDLR Airlines and other airline that had put their plans to enter the market on the back-burner are now keen to take off. However, calls made to MDLR’s corporate office in Gurgaon remained unanswered.