The newly formed AirAsia India, the Indian arm of Malaysia's low cost carrier AirAsia, has filed an application with the Civil Aviation Ministry seeking permission to launch its operations, official sources said on Thursday.
One thing is certain: The part-Goan, part-Malayali group CEO of Air Asia is not your usual boardroom CEO, and he cultivates the maverick businessman image, buying race car teams and football clubs and taking off-beat bets with his mentor and now buddy Richard Branson of Virgin.
What is pretty clear is that Indian carriers will not allow AirAsia to win the tariff game - its USP.
It will focus on the under-utilised airports instead of offering services in main hubs such as Mumbai and Delhi.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw posted the matter for hearing on Friday.
AirAsia India appears to have chosen destinations where it would face intense competition from other airlines, which fly directly to all these, barring one.
AirAsia may breakeven by June this year.
Given the cost structure in the country, it won't be easy for AirAsia to offer 'Nano' fares and still make money.
Tony Fernandes said the aviation sector here was a "double marathon" and not a "sprint".
AirAsia's rival airlines in India have kept themselves super-busy in the past few months -- by moving court against the former's launch, adding flights on the routes where AirAsia is operating, and engaging in a price war.
AirAsia, the largest low-cost airline in Asia, announced the JV with Tatas late February. Last month FIPB had approved the proposal.
'JRD Tata was a visionary who established civil aviation in India'.
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Swamy had written to the Election Commission, the DGCA and the Civil Aviation Ministry not to grant a license to the carrier.
The company has charted out a three step process in achieving the target
Both parties will discuss the issues and there will be a meeting again on May 28, he said.
The carrier planned to bring in a plane a month from March to build a fleet of at least 10 jets by the end of the year.
Budget air-carrier AirAsia has began its three day travel fair, offering 20 per cent discounts on flights across the airline's network.
It and Vistara both book slots here; former also likely to launch Mumbai flights from early 2015.
Discontent has been brewing among a section of the cabin crew at the low-cost carrier for some time now, especially after the start of the process of merger of AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, with itself.
The FIA termed as 'illegal' the clearances granted to the airline by the Finance Ministry and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and called the grant of Air Operator's Permit or the flying licence to it 'fraudulent'.
AirAsia has come under scrutiny since June when GMT Research issued a critical report questioning its accounts.
At the heart of the current controversy is the government's FDI rule
This was good enough for Fernandes to hire Chandilya to lead his India business.
A woman passenger claimed that she had explosives and threatened to blow up the aircraft mid-air but it turned out to be a hoax. No bombs were found following a thorough search of the plane after it made an emergency landing.
AirAsia has rolled out fares as low as Rs 3,399 for a Visakhapatnam-Kuala Lumpur.
Mittu Chandilya wants to bring a new meaning to flying for Indians.
"We are waiting for any input from any quarter," Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said, adding, "We have not received anything so far".
The aviation regulator slapped fines amounting to Rs 2.75 crore on Indian airlines in 2023, marking a 39 per cent rise in financial penalties from Rs 1.97 crore in 2022. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it imposed fines on domestic carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, AirAsia India and SpiceJet for issues related to non-compliance in 2023. The regulator also carried out a record number of 5,745 surveillance activities in the year to ensure compliance by airlines, aerodrome operators, and aviation personnel among others.
The Federation of Indian Airlines had challenged the aviation regulator's decision this week to issue an operating permit to AirAsia India.
In the initial phase, it would concentrate on destinations in south India, and on providing connectivity to small towns.
AirAsia India, whose top officials have promised to offer low and competitive airfares, will focus on connecting tier-II cities.
The company is looking at putting in one plane every month.
AirAsia India, whose top officials have promised to offer low and competitive airfares, will focus on connecting tier-II cities to begin with.
AirAsia's competitors are offering more reliable services.
Thai AirAsia operates a daily flight between the Indian and Thai capitals, besides a weekly flight between Kolkata and Bangkok.
Sources in the know confirmed Vistara, the joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, had booked six slots at the airport in New Delhi, adding it was ready to fly once it secured the government's nod.
The company, which will be first direct flight between Chandigarh and Bengaluru, will offer ticket at a minimum rate of Rs 1,900 inclusive of all taxes.
Three groups blame companies of excluding locals from hiring in the country.
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