Asian no-frills airlines woo fliers from south India

New Delhi: South-East Asian airlines are getting more aggressive. Value carriers, such as Nok Air, AirAsia, Tiger Airways and Lion Air, have either started betting big on destinations in south India or are planning to do so. The airlines are not only offering low fares, but also packages such as night stays in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur to lure travellers.
In its bid to have a bigger slice of the pie, Singapore-based Tiger Airways plans to link the island nation with Chennai and Kochi from October. The airline would offer a return ticket on these routes for about Rs 10,000, about 50-70% less than the normal fares. Air Asia is also planning to start services between Kuala Lumpur and Kochi and Bangalore.
Nok Air passengers get as much as 70% discounts at retail outlets in Thailand.
An Indian delegation led by civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla recently signed an MoU with Malaysia to further increase air frequency between the two countries. According to the MoU, both the nations have agreed to designate any airlines they wish to operate on the India-Malaysia route.
20/07/07 Nirbhay Kumar/Economic Times

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Foreign Jul 2007, Low Cost General Jul 2007