| Mumbai, July 1: In line with its aggressive expansion strategy AirAsia India plans to add 10 aircraft every year and will focus on the key markets of the South, the Group Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said on Monday. "We want to focus on the South and then slowly grow to the other parts of India. Our game plan is simple. We will have the lowest fares and a low-cost structure," Fernandes told presspersons in Mumbai. AirAsia India, that will initially start its operations with three aircrafts, has hired 50 people in India. "We already have 10 pilots and 16 cabin crew for the India operations," he said and added that the airline requires 56 to 57 per cent occupancy to break even in India. "Once we have seven to eight aircrafts operational in India, we will reach a stable level of occupancy," he said. AirAsia India, a joint venture between the Malaysia-based low-cost airline, India's Tata Group and investment firm Telestra Tradeplace, is expected to launch operations in India by the end of 2013 with an initial investment of Rs 80 crore. Stating that the feedback from low-cost airports in India was positive, Fernandes said the Delhi and Mumbai sectors are not in the priority list. "Indian airlines definitely don't want us to succeed. We are not here to take anybody's market share. We are here to grow and stimulate the market," he said. Speaking about Ratan Tata's role in the joint venture, Fernandes said he will be meeting Ratan Tata in Mumbai on Monday. "We are meeting for lunch. After the meeting, we will have more clarity on that," he said. nivedita.ganguly@thehindu.co.in (This article was published on July 1, 2013)   via Business - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFU5gJ9EWf7CBB2hiGmGBdRB9WvZA&url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/airasia-to-add-10-aircraft-each-year-to-focus-on-south-fernandes/article4869064.ece | |||
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