The Mumbai-based carrier GoAir is mulling to launch direct flights to Iran, Hindustan Times reported on Sunday.

According to the report, GoAir�has chosen to start with Iran, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey, countries to which no Indian carrier flies because they are not popular tourist hubs.

The Wadia group-owned budget airline, which has sought government approval for the purpose, is likely to start international services to 14 countries by early next year.

These will also include China, Thailand, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.

GoAir, which is about to become the fourth private airline from the country to operate overseas flights, wants to begin international operations from the next summer schedule .The summer schedule begins from the last Sunday of March and extends up to the last Saturday of October.

�We are requesting to be designated to fly to the countries mentioned on a scheduled basis during the summer schedule 2017. Extensive evaluations have been conducted to arrive at a phase-wise plan for implementation,� GoAir Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said.

Among the four low-cost airlines � SpiceJet, IndiGo, GoAir and AirAsiaIndia� operating in the India, only the first two fly to international locations, including the Persian�Gulf, Southeast Asia and SAARC regions.

Go Air, which received its 20th aircraft, an Airbus A320 Neo, last month, is the fifth-biggest Indian carrier with a marketshare of 8.1%. The airline launched domestic operations in November 2005.

By Real Iran