AirAsia to start flights to South East Asia from next year

PARIS: Singapore or Bali should now be even cheaper to fly, with AirAsia India spreading its wings to the Asean. The carrier announced that it will launch its international operations by providing connectivity to Southeast Asia from next year. Vistara, too, plans to fly international next year.

"We have kind of cracked the Indian market. We will make money in the next six months. We are only three years old in India. We are happy with the way we are going. We will be a good mix between domestic and international, which we are planning to go next year," AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said on the sidelines of the Paris Airshow.

He added that AirAsia India would be focusing on launching connectivity between Asean nations as it starts international operations. Asean members include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

AirAsia (India) Ltd is a JV between Tata Sons & AirAsia, with AirAsia and Tata Sons Ltd holding 49 per cent each and S Ramadorai (chairman) and R Venkataramanan, two directors of the company in their individual capacity, holding 0.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively.

(The reporter is attending the Paris Air Show on an invite from AirAsia).