Zooom Airlines, formerly known as Zoom Air, made a triumphant return to the Indian aviation scene on January 31 with its inaugural passenger flight from Delhi to Ayodhya.
The debut flight is set to utilize Bombardier CRJ 200ER aircraft for operations on the popular Delhi-Ayodhya route, renowned as one of the nation's premier spiritual tourism destinations, as per the airline's official statement.
Having suspended its operations in July 2018, the Gurugram-based airline secured the renewal of its air operator certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on September 15.
Originally established as Zexus Air in April 2013, Zoom Air acquired its first aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ200. Official operations began in February 2017; however, the airline struggled to attract significant air passenger traffic. Subsequently, DGCA suspended its air operator certificate in July 2018 due to safety concerns. The airline resumed services in October 2019, only to face suspension again in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under its new name, the airline aims to reintroduce itself to the market, offering an enhanced experience for passengers, according to industry experts.
"We are thrilled to announce the relaunch of Zooom, connecting Ayodhya and Delhi. Zooom is committed to improving regional connectivity in India. The new flight services intend to link people, cultures, and regions to this spiritual hub," stated Atul Gambhir, Zooom’s Chief Executive Officer, in a press release. He also expressed the airline's commitment to support the Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) by introducing additional services focused on the UDAN routes as part of its revival strategy.
"We are also exploring new routes and expanding our network to include more tier-2 cities. This will provide passengers with additional travel options, contributing to the growth of the domestic aviation sector," Gambhir added. The airline aims to provide a "cost-effective" and "convenient" solution for regional travel needs in the burgeoning Indian aviation market.
At present, the Indian aviation market features two active regional carriers, namely Fly Big and Star Air, with respective market shares of 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent in the domestic civil aviation market.
(With Agency Inputs)
