AirAsia India tweaks fleet plan, looks for 6-8 planes in first year

The airline's operations will begin today with a Bangalore-Goa flight

AirAsia India will not induct ten Airbus A320 planes in the first year of operations as announced earlier.

The airline is likely to get its second Airbus A320 plane by July end or August and will have 6-8 planes at end of first year, chief executive officer Mittu Chandilya said on Thursday.

The airline will launch its service with Bangalore-Goa flight today. The Bangalore-Chennai service will begin from June 19.

Last year AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes had said the airline will induct ten planes in first year and connect under served routes within India.

Delays in securing operating permit, issues related to support from Tamil Nadu government have led airline to change its plans. Due to these challenges, AirAsia is looking at slowly growly its operations and not planning an aggressive expansion as expected earlier, a source said.

Chandilya said he is looking at a two hub strategy for the airline.