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TruJet

TruJet 9M-TAG at Hyderabad, June 2015
TruJet 9M-TAG at Hyderabad, June 2015 Image: Wikimedia Commons. Atamvir Multani / CC BY-SA 4.0

TruJet was an Indian low-cost regional airline headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. Operated by Turbo Megha Airways Private Limited, it focused on connecting smaller cities and underserved airports across India, primarily through turboprop services.

Key facts
Type Regional low-cost airline
Parent company Turbo Megha Airways Private Limited
Headquarters Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Hub Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
Fleet type ATR 72 turboprop aircraft
Country India

Overview

TruJet positioned itself as a regional carrier in the Indian aviation market, operating short-haul flights between Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The airline used the ATR 72 family of turboprop aircraft, which are well suited to short runways and lower-density routes typical of regional air travel in India.

Background

The carrier was launched under Turbo Megha Airways, with operations centred in southern India. It chose Hyderabad as its base, taking advantage of the city's central location for connectivity to destinations in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Operations

TruJet operated scheduled passenger services on regional sectors and participated in the Government of India's regional connectivity initiatives aimed at improving air links to smaller airports. The airline's network at various points included destinations such as Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Cuddapah and Kadapa, among others.

Fleet

The fleet was built around the ATR 72, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft used widely by Indian regional operators for routes that do not require the range or capacity of a jet aircraft.

Regional connectivity

TruJet was among the airlines that bid for and operated routes under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, the regional connectivity programme launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Under this scheme, the airline served sectors that connected smaller airports to metro cities at regulated fares.

Significance

As a dedicated regional carrier, TruJet contributed to the expansion of air connectivity in southern India, particularly for cities that historically had limited or no scheduled air services. Its operations supported the broader policy objective of decentralising civil aviation beyond the major metropolitan hubs.

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