AirAsia India receives first A320

Chennai: AirAsia India received its first aircraft, a brand new Airbus A320, at the Chennai airport on Saturday .
The 180-seater all-economy configuration aircraft takes AirAsia India closer to launching its low cost service in the domestic sector.
According to a press release from AirAsia, the A320 from Airbus’ factory in Toulouse, France, was received with a ‘water cannon salute’ as it taxied down the runway.
AirAsia India is awaiting an air operating permit to start flying commercially. AirAsia’s CEO Tony Fernandes recently told a wire agency that AirAsia India was likely to start operations in March or April.
AirAsia India has got in-principle approval to import ten Airbus A320 aircraft.ý It has partnered with the Tata group and the Arun Bhatia-led Telstra Tradeplace to run the low-cost passenger airline service in the country. The joint venture partners announced the start of the new airline in February 2013.
Mittu Chandilya, CEO, AirAsia India, in a statement said, “The arrival of our first A320 signifies that we are a step closer to our dream to create a new benchmark in the low-cost air travel category.”
AirAsia India’s fleet will be drawn from the 475 A320 family aircraft ordered by the AirAsia Group. To date, almost a third of the aircraft on order have already been delivered and are flying on AirAsia Group’s operations out of Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila and now Chennai, said a company release.