Page 17 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE AIR ASIA INDIA

AirAsia India Takes Delivery of

First Aircraft

airasia india, thE country’s nEw airworthiness, safety measures, and airline and a no-objection certificate from
no-frill carrier has received its first aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul the civil aviation ministry.
Airbus A320, inching closer to launching facilities and, most importantly, an AirAsia plans to start operations in
its operation in the domestic sector. operation manual detailing the availability the country with three Airbus-320 aircraft
The airline, a joint venture between of manpower to operate flights as well as initially and hopes to add 10 Airbus aircraft
Malaysia’s low-cost carrier AirAsia Group on the ground, parking space at airports each year to boost its operations in the
Bhd and local investors –the Tata Group and engineering facilities. country. The airline has currently 200
and Arun Bhatia’s Telestra Tradeplace, got The DGCA had sent a team of its employees, including pilots, engineers
permission from the Indian government officers to Malaysia few weeks ago to and ground staff.
late last year to import 10 aircraft. inspect and certify facilities where the The Airports Authority of India (AAI)
Subsequently, it took delivery of its first start-up carrier was training its cockpit has already allotted space for the airline
Airbus A320 aircraft on March 22 in the and cabin crew. in the old domestic terminal in Chennai to
southern city of Chennai, from where it The new Airbus A320 is powered by set up its offices.
is expected to commence operations, an CFM engines and equipped with Sharklets Mittu Chandilya, Chief Executive
airline official says. - a wing tip device that helps airlines Officer of AirAsia India says the airline will
The airline will further take delivery of reduce fuel burn and emission. hopefully commence operations in May.
additional nine A320 aircraft for its Indian AirAsia India’s fleet will be drawn from The airline will give more thrust to
operations. the 475 A320 family aircraft ordered by the providing flying connections to smaller
However, the airline is still awaiting AirAsia Group. Indian cities.
an air operator permit from the country’s The joint venture partners announced “The arrival of our first A320 signifies
aviation regulator - the Directorate the start of the new airline in February 2013. that we are a step closer to our dream to
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to start Later that year, the airline crossed create a new benchmark in the low-cost
flying commercially. mostly all major hurdles, including air travel category,” Chandilya says. “The
The aviation regulator will sanction a permission from India’s Foreign Indian aviation industry will soon witness
the air operating permit after examining Investment Promotion Board to invest 800 a prodigious overhaul with the entry of
areas such as the aircraft requirement, million rupees ($13.4 million) in the new AirAsia India,” he adds.
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