Air Sahara will induct two new 50-seater jets this week in a bid to increase its total fleet size from 17 to 24 aircraft by the end of this financial year.

The induction of the two Canadian regional jets (CRJ) would take the number of such aircraft in the Air Sahara fleet to seven.

"We are planning to have 24 aircraft in our fleet by the end of March 2004. We are deciding on the mix of the CRJs and Boeing aircraft," UK Bose, chief executive officer, Air Sahara said at the sidelines of a launch of a co-branded credit card with Standard Chartered bank.

Bose added that the Boeings inducted would be new generation ones. Air Sahara now has 17 aircraft, including 12 Boeing 737-700, 737-800 and 737-400 aircraft as well as five CRJ-200s.

The airline, which has a massive expansion plan, had in early September increased its capacity by 30 per cent by starting 24 new flights.

This had increased its total daily flights from 79 to 103 and added 3,000 more seats taking the total tally to about 11,300.

Bose added that the airline had made a strong recommendation to the Naresh Chandra committee on civil aviation to allow private domestic airlines international flying rights.

Air Sahara would take only three months to prepare itself for international operations, added Air Sahara vice president (corporate strategy & commercial) Alok Sharma.

As part of its marketing initiatives Air Sahara today launched a credit card with Standard Chartered bank to improve passenger traffic and boost revenues. The co-branded gold card has features like free travel for companion and children on the airline once a year.

It would also offer three complimentary upgrades to business class every year, five per cent discount on all ticket purchase, including on advance purchase tickets and access to exclusive Sahara business class lounges at airports. It would also offer personal accident insurance of up to Rs 30 lakh (Rs 3 million).