AirAsia aims international flights by October

AirAsia India aims to start international operations in by October this year, its chief operating officer said Monday. The joint venture carrier between Tata Sons and Malaysian low fare airline AirAsia Berhad is looking at short haul destinations in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur airline recently received its 21st plane and aims to take the fleet size to 40 in a year, Kumar added. It operates 154 daily flights.

Earlier this year the airline presented a plan to its board to deploy 40% of its fleet overseas in five years. The government had been investigating the airline for alleged irregular lobbying for international rights. Kumar didn’t comment on the probe but indicated its plans for starting flights by October were firm.

AirAsia India last month got a boost from its parents by getting a fund infusion of Rs 500 crore for its expansion. That followed an overhaul of its top management, getting IndiGo veteran Kumar as COO and former Tata Steel chief Sunil Bhaskaran as CEO.