Chennai: AirAsia India, the airline joint venture between Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and India’s Tata Group that was expected to launch operations before Diwali (November 3) this year, may postpone its take-off due to delays in regulatory clearances.
The company, which has so far recruited 200 staff, is expected to have around 470 employees by the time it starts the first phase of operations, said Mittu Chandilya, chief executive of Air Asia (India) Pvt Ltd.
The company is now waiting for the no objection certificate (NOC) from the ministries of home affairs and civil aviation, after which it has to get the air operator’s permit from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is the flying licence, Chandilya told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
“I was hoping for before Diwali, but I am not sure. We are waiting for the NOC clearance and it really depends on that,” he added. “I will never launch this airline until we are absolutely ready commercially, as well as operationally, from a safety stand point. So, if that means that I am delayed to a later point, I would rather do that and take the loss initially.”
He added that the government was supportive of the venture.
19/08/13 Business Standard
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The company, which has so far recruited 200 staff, is expected to have around 470 employees by the time it starts the first phase of operations, said Mittu Chandilya, chief executive of Air Asia (India) Pvt Ltd.
The company is now waiting for the no objection certificate (NOC) from the ministries of home affairs and civil aviation, after which it has to get the air operator’s permit from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is the flying licence, Chandilya told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
“I was hoping for before Diwali, but I am not sure. We are waiting for the NOC clearance and it really depends on that,” he added. “I will never launch this airline until we are absolutely ready commercially, as well as operationally, from a safety stand point. So, if that means that I am delayed to a later point, I would rather do that and take the loss initially.”
He added that the government was supportive of the venture.
19/08/13 Business Standard
