 "AirAsia India might delay launch plans")
AirAsia India, the airline joint venture between Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and India’s Tata Group that was expected to launch operations before Diwali (November 3) this year, may postpone its take-off due to delays in regulatory clearances.
The company, which has so far recruited 200 staff, is expected to have around 470 employees by the time it starts the first phase of operations, said Mittu Chandilya, chief executive of Air Asia (India) Pvt Ltd.
The company is now waiting for the no objection certificate (NOC) from the ministries of home affairs and civil aviation, after which it has to get the air operator’s permit from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is the flying licence, Chandilya told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
“I was hoping for before Diwali, but I am not sure. We are waiting for the NOC clearance and it really depends on that,” he added. “I will never launch this airline until we are absolutely ready commercially, as well as operationally, from a safety stand point. So, if that means that I am delayed to a later point, I would rather do that and take the loss initially.”
He added that the government was supportive of the venture.
AirAsia India will be based in Chennai in which the Malaysian carrier will hold a 49 per cent stake, Tata Group 30 percent, while the remaining 21 percent will be with Arun Bhatia's Telstra Tradeplace.
Of the total 470 employers the company plans to have, the management team would be very thin, while the cabin crew, pilots, engineers and ground staff all together would account to around 85 per cent. “I have the full management team now. I would not be hiring anybody in that,” Chandilya said. Ideally, the company would have 70-80 people working for an aircraft, though it might not be the scenario in the beginning.
He added the company would also look at multiple hubs in the country. “Our planes are point-to-point and we need more than one hub. So, there will never be a situation where all our fleet will be parked in one place. There will always be a situation where we need three or four hubs.” The company would require at least seven to eight hubs, four to five in South.
Speaking on the criticisms that he does not have an experience in aviation industry, Chandilya said: “I have spent the last four years consulting to the aviation industry. So, all the major airlines, I was behind that. I know enough about aviation and people keep saying I am new to aviation because I have not worked in an aviation firm, which is actually good, let them think that.”
The company, which has so far recruited 200 staff, is expected to have around 470 employees by the time it starts the first phase of operations, said Mittu Chandilya, chief executive of Air Asia (India) Pvt Ltd.
The company is now waiting for the no objection certificate (NOC) from the ministries of home affairs and civil aviation, after which it has to get the air operator’s permit from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is the flying licence, Chandilya told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
“I was hoping for before Diwali, but I am not sure. We are waiting for the NOC clearance and it really depends on that,” he added. “I will never launch this airline until we are absolutely ready commercially, as well as operationally, from a safety stand point. So, if that means that I am delayed to a later point, I would rather do that and take the loss initially.”
He added that the government was supportive of the venture.
AirAsia India will be based in Chennai in which the Malaysian carrier will hold a 49 per cent stake, Tata Group 30 percent, while the remaining 21 percent will be with Arun Bhatia's Telstra Tradeplace.
Of the total 470 employers the company plans to have, the management team would be very thin, while the cabin crew, pilots, engineers and ground staff all together would account to around 85 per cent. “I have the full management team now. I would not be hiring anybody in that,” Chandilya said. Ideally, the company would have 70-80 people working for an aircraft, though it might not be the scenario in the beginning.
He added the company would also look at multiple hubs in the country. “Our planes are point-to-point and we need more than one hub. So, there will never be a situation where all our fleet will be parked in one place. There will always be a situation where we need three or four hubs.” The company would require at least seven to eight hubs, four to five in South.
Speaking on the criticisms that he does not have an experience in aviation industry, Chandilya said: “I have spent the last four years consulting to the aviation industry. So, all the major airlines, I was behind that. I know enough about aviation and people keep saying I am new to aviation because I have not worked in an aviation firm, which is actually good, let them think that.”