Air Asia has been given ‘no objection certificate’ by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and now the airline will start the process of getting an Air Operating Permit (AOP) so that it can start its operations soon.
NOC by the Civil Aviation Ministry means the airline now will be able to import its aircraft to Chennai, its proposed headquarter.
“We are very thankful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for granting the no objection certificate to us so quickly. This is the fastest an NOC has been granted and with this, we will focus on obtaining the Air Operating Permit,” Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia India Mittu Chandilya said.
“We will continue with our preparations and get ourselves ready for take-off once the Air Operating Permit is acquired and we look forward towards being one ofthe dynamic contributors to the development of the Indian aviationindustry,” he added.
When asked by The Pioneer, an official from Air Asia said: “Air Operating Permit can be obtained in 90 days period from Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and we hope even that coming sooner. But, there are also many other permits to be obtained to start operations.”
The DGCA grants the AOP after vetting the preparations of a start-up airline to launch flights by examining issues like availability of aircraft, manpower to operate flights as well as on the ground, aircraft parking space at airports and engineering facilities.
When asked specifically as to when Air Asia intends to start its operations, the official added: “ We want to start it as soon as possible depending upon different permits and other necessary formalities.”
There were reports that the airline could start its operations either by December this year or early next year.
AirAsia submitted a request to start a joint venture to begin AirAsia India earlier this year, partnering Tata Sons limited and Arun Bathia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt ltd, and was granted a formal approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (“FIPB”) of India two months later in April.
AirAsia India is confident that it will be able to replicate the success of its counterparts in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia; and enabling people to fly affordably through superior operational performance by emphasizing afocused and disciplined cost structure will tremendously benefit the Indianconsumer.
The airline currently has a fleet of three Airbus A320 aircraft and over 200staff at the moment.