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AirAsia India ready for 'next big step': Tony Fernandes

Low-cost carrier would soon be expanding its fleet to around 18-20 aircraft

Published: Feb 14, 2016 03:44:55 PM IST
Updated: Feb 14, 2016 04:43:47 PM IST
AirAsia India ready for 'next big step': Tony Fernandes
Image: Joshua Navalkar
(Left) Richard Quest and Tony Fernandes

AirAsia India, the Indian arm of the Malaysian low-cost carrier, is ready for the “next big step” in India, according to its Tony Fernandes, parent AirAsia Bhd’s CEO and founder.
       
He was speaking on the sidelines of the CNN Asia Business Forum 2016, which was a part of the Make in India week being held in Mumbai.

Fernandes said that AirAsia India, which also has Tata Sons as an equity partner, hadn’t been successful yet. But the company hopes to learn from its journey in India — a market that it entered in 2013.
 
Fernandes said that growing AirAsia India’s fleet was on the cards and the no-frill carrier would be expanding its fleet to around 18-20 aircraft from six at present.

The AirAsia boss stated that in terms of consumer satisfaction, India was the best performing market among the countries in South Asia that the carrier flies to. Also, the latest passenger load factor for AirAsia India stood at around 80 percent, which was an improvement on its earlier performance.

Commenting on recent reports suggesting that AirAsia India CEO Mittu Chandilya would be quitting the company in March, Fernandes denied having knowledge of any such development and said: “I am on my way to meet Mittu right now in Bengaluru.”

When asked if AirAsia India would look for a new CEO, Fernandes said that that was a call for the AirAsia India board, chaired by former TCS CEO S Ramadorai.

 

SPECIAL COVERAGE: Make in India Week 2016

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