Mumbai/New Delhi: Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh has asked national carrier Air India to develop a hub in South India to target passenger traffic from the region.
The move is significant in the backdrop of Malaysian carrier AirAsia's plans to make Chennai as its domestic base and its ambition to use south as a base to fly internationally from there to West Asia, Bangladesh, Africa and parts of China. Its promoter Tony Fernandes has asked the Indian government to scrap the rule under which a domestic carrier can fly overseas only after five years of operating within the country and must have 20 planes.
"Air India has to consider setting up a hub in Chennai or Bangalore. It can have its main hub in Delhi," Singh stated. He added the growing trade and commerce in the region could support the passenger demand.
07/07/13 Aneesh Phadnis & Sharmistha Mukherjee/Business Standard
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The move is significant in the backdrop of Malaysian carrier AirAsia's plans to make Chennai as its domestic base and its ambition to use south as a base to fly internationally from there to West Asia, Bangladesh, Africa and parts of China. Its promoter Tony Fernandes has asked the Indian government to scrap the rule under which a domestic carrier can fly overseas only after five years of operating within the country and must have 20 planes.
"Air India has to consider setting up a hub in Chennai or Bangalore. It can have its main hub in Delhi," Singh stated. He added the growing trade and commerce in the region could support the passenger demand.
07/07/13 Aneesh Phadnis & Sharmistha Mukherjee/Business Standard
