Air Costa (Vijayawada, India) has acquired three E-Jets for the launch of its scheduled regional airline service in India. Two Embraer 170s have been arranged from ECC Leasing, Embraer’s wholly-owned subsidiary. The new carrier has also purchased one new Embraer 190 from Embraer. The firm order is already included in Embraer’s backlog as an “undisclosed” customer.

Air Costa today said it is in the process of getting final approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and would launch operations in July 2013.

The no-frills Air Costa will initially fly to Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Vijayawada as well as key secondary cities in the north and northwest of the country.

The new operator had initially planned to launch operations using five Bombardier Q400s.

Copyright Photo: Air Costa. Formerly operated by Gulf Air as A9C-MA, Air Costa will lease this Embraer ERJ 70-100LR G-CHJI (msn 17000278) from ECC Leasing Company as VT-LSR.