Tata-AirAsia gets nod to import planes

New Delhi: The aviation ministry has given the proposed Tata-AirAsia low-cost carrier (LCC) to import 10 aircraft, removing a big hurdle in this delayed project. Now the JV airline — which applied for permission this February — may start flying in a year as DGCA has indicated it may issue the licence next month.
"AirAsia India will begin operations after getting the schedule airline permit from DGCA and begin operations with three to four planes. Then over a year, the airline will take the number to 10. Fleet expansion thereafter will depend on air travel growth and whether the five-year-20-aircraft rule for Indian carriers flying abroad is relaxed," said sources. The Tata-AirAsia proposal — the first startup after FDI by foreign airlines in desi carriers was allowed last September. The JV applied to FIPB last February.
The aviation ministry first maintained that the relaxed FDI was for foreign airlines to invest in existing desi ones and not for start-ups. Once they accepted this proposal, other clearances like security clearance for foreign directors kept delaying the project.
Read News In full 13/12/13 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India