AirAsia Group has petitioned the Indian government to exempt its AirAsia India (Bengaluru International) unit from the country's regulations which govern when a start-up carrier can begin international flights.
India's Ministry fo External Affairs says the Malaysian carrier conglomerate asked the Indian government to exempt AirAsia India from the requirement that it need operate a fleet of at least twenty aircraft in order for it to begin international services.
"Carriers will be able to fulfill the gaps and increase connectivity between India and Malaysia and the ASEAN region. It would be of immense benefit if the 20 aircraft [sic] ruling is also waived in the near future," the MEA statement said.
If the necessary exemption is given, AirAsia Group's Executive Chairman and co-founder, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, said it would take AirAsia India "probably three months” to start international flights.
AirAsia India currently operates eight A320-200s on flights to fifteen destinations across India. Chief Executive Officer Amar Abrol was quoted earlier this year as saying that with current regulations in place, the LCC would likely make its international debut during the second half of 2018. Current fleet projections put the carrier over the twenty aircraft fleet threshold in or around mid-2018, he added.
