well, One of the most exciting new Indian airlines is a Qassam, and we got a special guest with us, the founder of a Casa Vinny Dubay, and we will be talking a little bit about fleet expansion in a Kasab, particularly a few days after Air India announced that mega purchase a worth 70 to $80 billion of 470 aircraft plus options. Therefore, a casa is an interesting storey because they are expected to announce a deal war with more than 100 aircraft in the next little while. They were also setting new benchmarks in the aviation sector. Mr. Dubai thanks very much for being with us. The the A Casa Storey. It's a bright streak across that the sphere of Indian aviation. It's a new airline, very, very new, but you seem to be meeting your targets in terms of for the number of aircraft that you're putting into service. Well, let's talk about that first. What war? Your initial targets and how have you met them? So initial. Thank you, Vishnu. I appreciate it. Our initial target that we announced maybe about a year ago was to get a delivery of 18 aircraft by March of 2023. And I'm happy to announce that we took delivery of the 18th aircraft in late February 2023. So we certainly met that target. We have crossed the one million passenger mark on the 22nd of June. We we were happy to service our millionth customer. We're now flying to 23 routes were selling over 110 flights a day. We got 2000 employees. These are all targets that we set a year ago. And we're very, very happy that we have achieved them with Vishnu. I will the ceiling and send ended, isn't it? Very few airlines in aviation, perhaps no other airline has achieved this speed of growth. Is that right? That there is correct? Unfortunately, there is no Guinness Book of World Records category for this, but we've asked a lot of people with a lot of grey hair if they ever come across any other airline that has gone from 0 to 20 in the span of 12 months, and and nobody has been able to identify anyone else. And so what we're saying is that in 120 year history of global aviation since the Wright brothers launched the first powered flight in 19. We think where the first that has grown at this pace. But Bishnoi, I will tell you that growing fast is one thing. But the manner in which you grow is also equally important and we're very, very happy to say that we getting excellent consumer feedback. Our customers talk about the A CASA experience in very warm and welcoming terms. And in the three months that we have been monitored by the Indian Government Ministry of Civil Aviation in the CIA for on time performance which is December, January in February, we have closed at either number one on number two in the industry. So it's also the manner in which we have grown. There is there is extremely comforting have What about future orders? Seed and her of the bigger India deal A road expected to grow quite as largest that yesterday about smaller company obviously. But there will be mega orders from a casa as well right there is. You know, we thought 72 is a big enough order, but that will take us only through March of 2027. We've said that we're gonna place it significantly larger order before the end of 2023. You know, people have asked what is that mean? And for the moment, we've just tease them by saying it's going to be three digits, which obviously leaves a very large range between 109 199. But yes, I don't think people should be expecting 5. 600 because we are a smaller company, so our rate of growth will be larger, but our aircraft order is more than likely not going to be larger. So how many aircraft I ordering at this point? That's all I'm gonna save. Vision is significantly large. Three digits bear with us. So three days is more than 100 right? Well, more than 100. Would it be fair to report that would be fair? Futures were already so well, more than 100 aircraft. And you gonna place that order this year? It's all going to be of the Boeing 737 max family? No, at this point, we're not We're not yet ready to commit to that. We What we've said is that is going to be in narrow body order. But we're looking at both manufacturers and you haven't finalised a choice between the two manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, have you? Well, we certainly have an order for 72 Boeing 737 Max that were extremely happy with. We're grateful for the way in which Boeing, his partner with us, has helped launch a Casa. And we're we're very thankful. So So we consider them a very deep in strategic partner. But for the next order, we will be open to considering both Boeing as well as a bus. All right now. The other big issue, of course, is pilots where you get so many pilots. It's almost as if we have more planes and pilots, which is a bizarre situation in Indian aviation. To be not just be shy like to correct that bickers where we get pilots is all our pilots member all all pilots required to support a Casas growth. Every one of them has come from India. India has a lot of pilots. We export pilots to the world. But also keep in mind that you know, in the calendar years 2019 2021 22 these four years, where Indian aviation as a whole did not see any growth. In fact, as of today, we're probably flying less total passengers across domestic in national. Then we flew in 2019 or emulate 2018. So in this period of time, I think DG provided licences to somewhere between three and 3500 pilots. Those 3 to 3500 pilots are on the bench today. So when you say where we gonna get piles, from what we got a very significant backlog of pilots that that need employment, that people like arson. Hopefully our colleagues in Indian aviation are happy to employ, So we're very excited about the prospect of growing. I think what separates a casa is the fact that we have got such high growth compared to other people. And I think what separates our Casa in terms of attracting pilots is that we're, you know, probably the most employees centric company, suddenly the most employees centric company in India. And I think we make a great home for a pilot's. What about flying abroad? What are your plans as far as that is concerned, So we we would like to fly internationally and we will at this point. Have plans are flying internationally before the end of 2023. We don't have a destination in mind because because it will require permissions government permissions. You've gotta get root authority before you can decide that. And so it's not just now hands, but by the end of 2023 we will launch our first international flight. Very excited. Are you looking at a future where there would be even wide body aircraft in your fleet? Not at this point. So this significantly larger, you know, much larger than 100 aircraft order that we have just discussed is going to be a narrow body order. So at this point, we're not looking at wide bodies. You would be looking at ranges. Of course I I asked this because Indigo is flying with their 83 21 Excel ours yet to arrive. They'd be flying fairly robust ranges. They be serving destinations in Europe as well. Is that something that you want to get in on as well? It just depends on what the circumstances are that we get from manufacturers on those highly specialised aircraft. You know, I think once you get to a certain scale it is. You can be a little more open to it. So at this point, we're not ruling it out. It just depends on, Like I said, the what the manufacturers put on the table for us, for the specialised aircraft and just in terms of airport. Okay, Another question on the 77 Max, it's just sort of comes to mind I looking at the 200 variant. The reason, I ask is because more capacity, which comes with less range but is zero. I mean, it's a larger aircraft. Does that work for you? That's right. And so we have ordered this larger aircraft so in, in our initial 72 aircraft order, there is already placed. We've got 19 of them. There are the dash aid variety and we have got 63 of them, or 53 of them. There are of the 8-200 larger variety, 197 seats. We think very, very exciting aircraft. It's very good. The range degradation is not significant. And so we're extremely excited about the prospect of this aircraft means for us. I think the concern for passengers is that because that to her variant can house K K conceit close to 200 passengers. The question is, would you do that? Because Iran, in domestic sectors leg room is important, that there is a priority for passengers less of a priority, sometimes for airlines, which is why I ask, Yes. So I I will say that our eight Ash 200 comes with 1 97 seats, not 200. And I can also tell you that if you compare the leg room available on the 1 97 seat configured aircraft for a casa, you will have more seats, fish. Then you get on a 3 10 20 new with 186 seats, which is the predominant aircraft that is flying in in India today. So there should be no degradation of comfort for consumers. And when you add the U. S. P when you add the device holder when you add the the new aircraft, with the pressure in the noise in the air flow and the larger overhead bins with all other aspects of the A, Casa service culture, I think is going to be one heck of an experience for our consumers. Final question. Airport infrastructure in India and secondly, the variable of aviation turbine fuel. Your industry just works on the variable fuel cause. Let's talk about fuel first, and that's a huge problem. It goes up and down, and then you get into this mega competitive state with other airlines where your profit margins are so slim that your long term survival of every airline actually gets becomes question. We've seen what happens. What's after Mitt? Some of the other airlines. So therefore, how a do in in your in your thinking rationalised the volatility in aviation turbine fuel in India and the High Court location. We really don't lose sleep there. Plenty of things are lose sleep over, but the cost of aviation turbine fuel is not something I control. So what we focus on Air Casa is controlling the variables that will then allow us to compete whether fuel, you know, as is at $50 a barrel for Brent or at $90 a barrel for Brent of higher. And what we can control is the type of aircraft that we get. And so we've got what we think is is the most futuristic aircraft, the max you know, his new age technology, which is also exciting when it comes to our pilots is were equipping them with a skill set for the future. But as far as fuel efficiency is concerned, this is the most fuel efficient aircraft that there is, and 100% of our aircraft are these these fuel efficient aircraft. So if there's anybody that can really thrive through the volatility of fuel, I think that's part of what we focus on in terms of our strategy. You know, one final question just what, two or two or three days back? The new Air India MD told me that there isn't a day that passes when some incident of poor conduct will be poor. Behaviour by passengers is not reported. No Air India, much larger airline. But I think the larger question exists. Passenger behaviour on board flights, the challenges which your crew face on board. It's it's an industry wide concern. Do share those concerns Well, absolutely. And we have zero tolerance, you know, as far as unruly behaviour is concerned. I mean, this is, you know, this is something that that could affect safety and we have absolutely zero tolerance for it and and So I think it's incumbent and all of us to keep this to keep the stop IQ top of mind. But it's also incumbent and all fast to help educate people that are travelling for the first time. It's not something to look down upon its something to partner with other players in the industry. It's something a partner with people like yourself because, you know, as a country we take great pride in is an airline. We take great pride in serving people that are flying for the first time. But people that are flying for the first time might not necessarily be completely familiar with the attic it and and and and the behaviour that there is expected as far as safety of themselves in their fellow passengers is concerned. And so, you know, I think this is something that we absolutely share. And it's something that we think we're part of the solution for as well, you know, before I let you go A a casa, among other Indian airlines of flayed is and will be a huge employment generator. You bringing people into the workforce, not just pilots. So once you actually start receiving your aircraft beyond the 72. And would you have a rough idea of how many people across the board would be employing in Let's see 56 years from now, how bigger company will a qasemi? Sure, so So I think you've got these rule of thumbs, Vishnu, that you can look at roughly 100 employees per aircraft. It's a rough rule of thumb. So where 2003 toys? Today we're at 18 aircraft on our way to 20 silvers. Rule of thumb is is not too far off. By March of 2027 will have 72 aircraft now fleet, and so 208,500 is not unreasonable Folk, right? Well, that's a fairly fairly significant number of in a. It's been wonderful speaking to thank you so much for joining us one of India's newest and most exciting airlines, breaking records in terms of delivery of aircraft and operationalise ing them, and it could be a huge employer in the future. And I think the big headline out of that interview is Expect a Casa to place an order by the end of this year of significantly more than 100 aircraft. And again, there is no end, no country in the world at the moment which is placing this number of orders. So that something certainly to look forward to when he we're out of time. Thanks so much for being with. Thank you.
