AirAsia (India) Pvt Ltd will make air travel a common mode of transport between small towns and cities, according to Mittu Chandilya, Chief Executive Officer.

More than half its passengers, will be first-time flyers from Tier-II and -III towns. Airline travel is no longer a luxury product and AirAsia will take it a step further with ‘disruptive’ but ‘consistent and sustainable’ pricing. The company is ‘OK with thin margins,’ Chandilya said.

AirAsia (India), a joint venture between AirAsia of Malaysia, Tata Group and Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace, an investment firm, is awaiting statutory clearances to launch its service. Chennai will be one of its important hubs, he said.

While the Government clearances are bound to take time, AirAsia is well geared to launch its services within a month of approvals, hopefully ‘before Diwali,’ he said.

He was addressing media persons after announcing AirAsia as the travel partner for the first visually-challenged national football team that is to participate in an international tournament in Thailand between August 19 and 22.

He said the air carrier has recruited over 200 staff, about half of them cabin crew, and will have over 450 by the time it launches its service. AirAsia may be a low-cost carrier but it will not skimp when it comes to safety, security and travel comfort. The low pricing will not be a reflection of the service levels in the aircraft which will be of top quality, he said.

It has a fleet of four A320s though they are not in India yet. Two of them are ready in Toulouse and Malaysia. It will focus on expanding its fleet with A320s as a part of keeping its business model simple.

> balaji.ar@thehindu.co.in

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