In fact, 11 out of AirAsia’s first crew of 18 pilots had joined the airline as baggage handlers, cabin crew, cabin assistants or store boys.

The airline over the past couple of months has created a buzz in the market with shockingly cheap fares to South East Asian countries.

The low-cost Thai airline AirAsia today announced the launch of its direct Chennai-Bangkok flights from March 22.

AirAsia, the region's biggest budget carrier, is targeting India and China as economic growth and rising wages stoke travel demand.