AirAsia India set to begin with 5 aircraft, in first quarter

Chennai: Just as Ratan Tata had dreamt of making the Nano a family car, especially for families compelled to travel on two-wheelers, the Tatas’ low cost aviation venture, AirAsia India, a joint venture between Air Asia Bhd (49 per cent), Tata Sons (30 per cent) and Telestra Tradeplace (21 per cent), will target “first-time travellers”, AirAsia India Chairman S. Ramadorai told Business Line in an interview.
Compared to the Tatas’ other aviation venture, Tata-SIA, this budget airline, which will operate point-to-point flights mainly from Tier-II Indian cities, has been slower on the takeoff. “But the moment the clearances come, we have done all the background work and will be ready to take off immediately.”
This budget airline, he says, should be ready to operate flights by the “first quarter of 2014, or even by February or March if the clearance comes”. The airline is yet to get the operating permit from the DGCA.

Read News In full 27/12/13 Business Line