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AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes today said he expects AirAsia India to get air operator's permit soon.
His comments came as AirAsia completed its last inspection before the DGCA. AirAsia India's Airbus A320 completed 10 hours of proving flights across five sectors as per the new regulations.
Fernandes tweeted saying, "I think huge week for AirAsia. I feel that AirAsia India will be approved very soon."
AirAsia India's 10 fleets will be drawn from the 475 A320 Family aircraft ordered by the AirAsia Group. With Chennai as its hub, AirAsia India will focus on connecting tier-II cities.
The airline had earlier claimed that its fares could be 25-30% lower than those charged by other airlines.
Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had disposed of all objections against the proposed low-cost carrier, another important step before an air operator permit (AOP) is issued.
The DGCA had received about 20 objections from the Federation of India Airlines, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy and others, who argued foreign direct investment by foreign airlines had been allowed into existing Indian arilines, not for creating joint venture start-ups.
AirAsia India is a joint venture partnership between AirAsia, Tata Sons Limited and Arun Bathia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt. Ltd. While Tata Sons has a 30% stake in the venture, AirAsia owns 49% and Telestra Tradeplace holds the remaining. The $30 million venture was the first after the FDI norms in the aviation segment were changed.
