AirAsia India sees March-April launch; promises lowest fares

Air Asia India, the new no-frills carrier is all set to fly the Indian skies with cheap flights in the next 2-3 months, offering budget travellers with a new travel option.

Air Asia India is a joint venture of Malaysia-based Air Asia with India's Tata Group and Arun Bhatia-led Telstra Tradeplace.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Air Asia chief executive Tony Fernandes said the airline would introduce 'dramatically' low fares in the country, which would be cheapest in the market and take air travel to masses.

He said the airlines knows fully well that fare have to be extremely cheap in order to make air flights affordable to the common man.

AirAsia India, Fernandes said, is fully prepared from its side for the launch and is only waiting for final government approvals that should come soon.

It is the first foreign airliner to secure entry through a joint venture under the new aviation FDI policy.

However, speaking to CNBC – TV 18, Fernandes said there has been opposition to the entry of the airline even as a lot others want Air Asia to start operations in India.

The joint venture airline recently received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its training facilities.

''We are very, very optimistic about changing travel mood and keeping economic growth in India through our low fares,'' he was quoted as saying.

Fernandes said the company is ready for launch of its flights and is just waiting to "open the sale" of the tickets.