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| Chief Executive Tony Fernandes |
Fernandes said AirAsia would want to offer the lowest possible fares in its Indian operations.
“Airasia India success depends on low fares and low-cost structure. We have done it for 11 years. India is no different,” Fernandes said, adding “Indian airlines definitely don’t want us to succeed but we will fight back and break conventional wisdom”.
AirAsia, the largest budget carrier in Asia, plans to launch a regional airline in India with an initial investment of Rs 80 crore to cash in on rising demand for domestic air travel among the country’s rapidly expanding middle class.
“Air Asia India already has its planes in place. We have ten pilots and 16 cabin crew for India ops already. We have already hired 50 people in India”, said Fernandes adding that Need 56 to 57 percent occupancy to break even in India.
Tata Group and investment firm Telestra Tradeplace are its partners in the venture.
He also said that AirAsia has got positive feedback from low-cost airports in India. The company will ultimately operate Delhi and Mumbai sectors too, but there is no rush right now, he said.
He also clarified the company was not targeting IndiGo pilots. A PTI report had earlier said quoting sources that IndiGo may lose a good chunk of its commanders to AirAsia India as around 100 of its pilots have applied for jobs with the proposed carrier.
With inputs from Reuters
Source: http://to.ly/maH1
