AirAsia India plans 20 aircraft fleet size by 2018

TIL Desk/Business/Hyderabad-Budget airline AirAsia India today said it plans to have a fleet size of 20 by end-2018, thereby becoming eligible to operate on international routes. The airline, which will soon add 8th aircraft to its fleet, is also offering lifetime free flights to Indian gold medallists, five years and three years of free flights to silver and bronze medallists at the Olympics and Paralympics in Brazil, AirAsia India Chief Executive Amar Abrol said.

“Our game plan, that has been approved by the AirAsia Board, is to get roughly, over the course of 2017 or 2018, 20 aircraft. We ourselves want to get 20 aircraft as soon as possible. That will allow us to fly international. By end of 2018, I think we will be there (having 20 aircraft),” Abrol said at a press conference here.

Without giving a figure, Abrol said the company will soon infuse “millions of dollars” to meet its expansion plans. Abrol said the low-cost carrier will be operating its latest aircraft between Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kochi from October 8. AirAsia India currently flies to 11 destinations with hubs in Bengaluru and New Delhi covering Chandigarh, Jaipur, Guwahati, Imphal, Goa, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Kochi in its destination network.