Paving the way for the first foreign carrier to enter the Indian domestic aviation sector, AirAsia BhdÂ’s proposal to set up an airline jointly with the Tata group was approved on March 6 by the Indian governmentÂ’s foreign investment regulator. MalaysiaÂ’s AirAsia, the largest budget carrier in Asia, plans to launch a regional airline in India with an initial investment of 800 million rupees to cash in on rising demand for domestic air travel among IndiaÂ’s rapidly expanding middle class.
The new airline, AirAsia India, will be managed by the Malaysian company and based in the southern Indian city of Chennai. AirAsia, through its investment arm, will own 49 per cent of the new airline, with Tata Sons, the holding company of salt-to-software conglomerate Tata group, owning 30 per cent. Arun Bhatia, who owns Telestra Tradeplace, an investment firm, will hold the remainder.
Arvind Mayaram, IndiaÂ’s Economic Affairs Secretary said that AirAsia’s proposal has been cleared. Now tying up companies will have to take the necessary licences from the DGCA. They can start operating now once they get the licence, he added. The DGCA-Directorate General of Civil Aviation is IndiaÂ’s aviation regulator. Earlier on Wednesday, Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said he does not expect any major hurdles for the venture.
IndiaÂ’s aviation industry, which has been plagued by losses due to high operating costs and fierce competition, was opened to foreign investors in September last year. Foreign carriers are now able to purchase up to 49 per cent of local airlines.
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