Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia, told media persons in Chennai on Saturday he is confident of making the low-cost airline model work in India though many others have failed. AirAsia, in a tie-up with the Tatas and Telestra Tradeplace, is getting ready to launch its Indian operations. Edited excerpts:
Would you be meeting with government officials? What is on your agenda?
Yes. Want to educate them about our business model, highlight what we have done and our success. Everyone thinks we are going to fail. So, want to highlight what we can do if we get it right.
The domestic market is shrinking. Do you think it is the right time to launch?
Yes, prefect timing. Because no one is getting it right. It needs new folks, new ideas, and new ways of doing it. That's what we will hopefully introduce.
Would the high airport charges affect your business model?
We don't need to go to all the airports. There are some airports I won't be going to. It is like here, you have a Taj hotel (the Taj hotel which hosted the meeting), which Mr Tata likes and you have the budget hotel, which I like. Somewhere if it's not our league, we don't go there. Mr GVK has a very expensive airport. I won't go there. It's too expensive and not for my market.
29/06/13 Economic Times
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Would you be meeting with government officials? What is on your agenda?
Yes. Want to educate them about our business model, highlight what we have done and our success. Everyone thinks we are going to fail. So, want to highlight what we can do if we get it right.
The domestic market is shrinking. Do you think it is the right time to launch?
Yes, prefect timing. Because no one is getting it right. It needs new folks, new ideas, and new ways of doing it. That's what we will hopefully introduce.
Would the high airport charges affect your business model?
We don't need to go to all the airports. There are some airports I won't be going to. It is like here, you have a Taj hotel (the Taj hotel which hosted the meeting), which Mr Tata likes and you have the budget hotel, which I like. Somewhere if it's not our league, we don't go there. Mr GVK has a very expensive airport. I won't go there. It's too expensive and not for my market.
29/06/13 Economic Times
