Low-cost carrier AirAsia has joined Bangalore International Airport Ltd’s (BIAL’s) ambitious DigiYatra project – a fully biometric-based self-boarding solution for seamless flow from registration to boarding.

Domestic air traffic is expected to grow 25 per cent and cross 130 million in financial year 2017-18, but airlines will see bigger risks to profitability because of rising costs and yield pressures, aviation consultancy CAPA has said in its India outlook which it released recently.

AirAsia India is likely to commence international operations from the second half of the next calendar year, as it is expected to possess a fleet of 20 aircraft by mid-2018.

The new aviation policy has brought in a lot of forward-looking changes to boost the slumping aviation industry; these changes have been made to make the industry more dynamic and lucrative for all the players and to level the playing field. One of the major changes which have been welcomed by the smaller airlines is that, prior to the policy change, an airline needed to have 20 planes and five years of local operations to fly overseas.

The promoters of AirAsia India will infuse Rs.234 crore in the airline as it plans to grow its domestic footprint and prepares for foreign flights.

Buoyed by strong passenger growth, domestic air carriers are set to add close to 50 planes to their fleets in 2016-17, from 34 additions a year before.

With the Civil Aviation Ministry set to finalise the aviation policy soon, which will also decide the fate of the norms for international operations by domestic airlines, Tata Sons said the industry should avail opportunities rather than discuss rules. 'I would say let us all move on..

Vistara and AirAsia India may soon be able to fly international, as PM Narendra Modi favours scrapping the 5/20eligibility rule that bars Indian carriers from flying overseas until they complete five years of domestic service

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has said that all issues concerning AirAsia India’s application had been resolved. The Minister added that the proposal of AirAsia India has been sent to the Union Home Ministry for security clearance. Once the Home Ministry nod comes, the Civil Aviation Ministry will give its clearance to the Malaysia-based low cost carrier, the Minister said in London on June 10.