Malaysian long haul LCC AirAsia X mulls India operations from 2008

14 June 2007

"I am really limited by the planes and the earliest we can look at is the third quarter of 2008.

"I like Amritsar, many Sikhs have written to me but I need to know more about India. I only know about their music and cricket," said Fernandes.

AirAsia X, the long haul budget carrier of AirAsia, is readying to fly to longer destinations and the booming Indian aviation market, growing at 38 per cent annually, is a destination that it would not like to miss.

Currently, Air Asia has a fleet comprising 19 Airbus A320's and 35 737-300 Boeing aircraft, and has placed orders for another 150 A320's and 50 A330's.

Fernandes said that India, with its many attractive destinations, and vast geography was an ideal market for budget carriers like AirAsia to venture into.

"India is very sexy, there are more than 100 destinations. We can look at least 30 points. It is a phenomenal market," he told reporters at the symposium. He also that metro destinations like Kolkota, Goa and Kochi, were also viable destinations.