AirAsia launches New Delhi-Bengaluru flights at Re1 per km

AirAsia India has added new routes connecting New Delhi with Bengaluru, Guwahati and Goa to its list of flying destinations and is offering customers tickets at Re1 per km, as part of an inaugural offer.

On Thursday the airline launched its inaugural flights from Delhi at Re1 per km and said New Delhi will serve as the airline's hub for the North Indian market, connecting the capital with Bengaluru, Guwahati and Goa.

AirAsia is offering all-inclusive fares starting at Rs1,500 for the New Delhi-Guwahati sector, and Rs1,700 for the New Delhi-Goa as well as New Delhi-Bengaluru sectors.

AirAsia India organised a pre-launch special flight for prominent personalities to give them a special onboard flight experience.

The guests on the special short flight included civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, his deputy Mahesh Sharma, AirAsia India board member Arun Bhatia, airline's non-executive chairman Ramadorai and several ministry officials besides AirAsia India chief executive Mittu Chandilya.

Beginning next month, AirAsia will also start flying to Vishakhapatnam.

An AirAsia flight from Bengaluru to Vishakhapatnam would cost Rs1,400 (all-inclusive), the airline said.

AirAsia opened bookings from Thursday, which will be valid till 24 May 2015. The travel period for the offer is between 18 June 2015 and 31 May 2016.

"We are very excited to step into Delhi. The celebration today is the result of constant hard work, meticulous planning and undying dedicated spirit of our team. I would like to thank everyone associated with AirAsia India for the support. We hope to enable more people to experience air travel in India," Chandilya says.

The budget carrier had deployed an aircraft `Pioneer' named after the pioneer of Indian aviation JRD Tata, with a special livery dedicated to him to celebrate his contribution in the field.

"We are happy to welcome AirAsia India to IGI Airport. It is only fitting that a top rated carrier like AirAsia has chosen Delhi Airport as a hub for its operations. We will support the airline end to end," Delhi International Airport Private Limited chief executive I Prabhakara Rao said.

AirAsia, the country's fourth low-cost carrier, started off from its southern base of Bengaluru on June 12 last year and its network so far included Chennai, Kochi, Goa, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Pune.

AirAsia India is three-way joint venture with AirAsia holding 49 per cent stake while the other two partners - Tata Sons and Telestra Trade Place of Atrun Bhatia - hold 30 and 21 per cent stakes, respectively.