Coimbatore is known for its spirit of entrepreneurship. The city-based S.I. Nathan, Chairman of CMC Group, is the pioneer in launching an airline company based out of Coimbatore. The corporate office of Air Carnival Pvt. Limited, located at Avinashi Road, was inaugurated today.

Speaking to The Covai Post, Mr. Nathan said, “The company’s first aircraft, ATR 72-500, has arrived at the Chennai International Airport and the final formalities and paperwork will be completed soon. The first flight will start operations in the second week of May. By August this year, we will add two more aircrafts to our fleet.”

The airline will fly its first aircraft from Coimbatore to Chennai, Madurai, and Bangalore. In the next phase, Tier II cities like Hubli, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, and Secunderabad will be connected. Mr. Nathan said that the company has made an initial investment of about Rs.50 crores.

In the first month of its operations the company has plans to fly 90,000 passengers across its routes. “About 300 million people can actually afford to fly. With Air Carnival, we will ensure that everyone can fly. Our staff strength is 80 and our motto is, ‘On Time, Every Time,’” Manish Kumar Singh, CEO, Air Carnival said.

Enthusiastic about his new venture, Mr. Nathan said that Air Carnival Pvt. Limited will also offer employment opportunity to several engineering graduates of the CMS Group. The Chairman also made official the plans of the CMS Group to start an air-hostess training institute soon.