Low-cost airline «AirAsia India»

AirAsia India is an Indian airline headquartered in Bangalore, Karnataka state. The airline is a joint venture in which Tata Sons owns 83.67% of the airline and AirAsia Investment Limited (Malaysia) has a 16.33% stake. AirAsia India started flights on 12 June 2014 from Bangalore as its main hub. AirAsia is the first foreign airline to establish a subsidiary in India and the company marked the return of the Tata Group to the aviation industry after 60 years, having lost to Air India in 1946. As of June 2020, AirAsia India was the 4th largest carrier. in India after IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India with a market share of 7.2%.In February 2013, when the Indian government allowed up to 49% foreign direct investment in airlines, AirAsia Berhad applied to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) of India for permission to start its operations in India. In March 2013, AirAsia announced a joint venture with Tata Sons and Telestra Tradeplace.

AirAsia planned to start flights to various Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, using Chennai International Airport as the main hub. According to KPMG, the introduction of AirAsia is expected to trigger a new price war, eventually leading to increased air traffic and some consolidation in the Indian aviation sector. AirAsia initially invested USD 50 million and has struck deals with online and offline travel agents in preparation for its operations in India. On 3 March 2013, FIPB formally allowed AirAsia to lease or rent aircraft and carry cargo on its scheduled flights. The airline then applied for permission to carry passengers, which FIPB accepted on March 6. AirAsia India was established on March 28, 2013 and became the first foreign airline to open a subsidiary in India. In April, the airline began recruiting candidates for pilots and flight attendants. On 30 May 2014, the airline announced the relocation of its base to Bangalore and its first flight from there to Goa. AirAsia operated its first flight on 12 June 2014. In June 2015, the airline made Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport its secondary hub for North India operations. In August 2015, Tata Sons increased its stake to 40.06 per cent from 30 per cent earlier through an infusion of new capital, while Telestra’s stake declined from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. As of July 2019, AirAsia India was the fifth largest budget carrier in India after IndiGo, SpiceJet, Star Air (India) and GoAir with a market share of 7.1%.

In January 2018, then managing director and CEO Amar Abrol announced plans for the company to expect a fleet of 21 aircraft by the end of the year, giving it the right to operate overseas flights.

In July 2020, AirAsia India launched an aviation analytics app to help improve the airline’s operational efficiency by monitoring and managing aircraft turnover between flights through real-time data analysis. Mr Sunil Bhaskaran , Managing Director and CEO, AirAsia India, and Mr Shankar Narayanan, President and Global Head of Retail, Consumer Goods, Travel & Hospitality, Tata Consultancy Services, were among many who attended the digital launch.