GOANexpats: We have a headstart over Tata-SIA: Tony Fernandes AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes thanks the Indian govt for putting people first and not listening to vested interests
Tarun Shukla AirAsia founder and group chief executive Tony Fernandes. Photo: S. Kumar/Mint New Delhi: A-year-and-a-half after announcing its India plans, AirAsia India Pvt. Ltd has finally won an airline licence. AirAsia founder and group chief executive Tony Fernandes, who turned 50 last week, said it is the best birthday present he has ever got. Edited excerpts from a telephone interview: Q: You are now the eighth domestic scheduled passenger airline in India. Where does AirAsia India go from here? It's a big day for me personally. It feels great that we have achieved it. I have just turned 50 last week and my son said the celebrations will go on for one week. He told me today "dad, this is the last day of your birthday celebration". It's the best birthday gift I could have got, I told my son, a great day to end my birthday celebrations. Now we need to take stock of where we are. We never knew when it was coming. I thank the Indian government for putting people first and not listening to vested interests. The consumer will win. Q: When are we looking at the first flight? It's up to the board to decide now. We have everything in place. The Indian elections are getting over. So let's wait and see. Q: Would you say two-three months, which is typically the time frame to sell flights? Let's see the elections results, there is no rush, we want to make sure that this is something which can work. Q: Is there something that still worries you? No, nothing. We just want the elections out of the way. We need to see the direction of the new government and what policies they bring in. Q: You are referring to the five aircraft and 20 years' experience requirement for an Indian airline to fly international, which some airlines want to be revoked? Yeah, 5/20 would help. Q: How many aircraft is AirAsia India going to fly initially? There would be eight aircraft in six months. Q: You already have one Airbus A320 in India. When is the next one coming? The next one is this month. A few weeks back you were nearly on the edge and wanted to scrap the AirAsia India project in frustration. Until we get it finally, until the fat lady sings (you don't know). I have been through 12 years of this, you go through highs and lows. I never give up. The good always wins in the end. My father somewhere up there would be very proud that I have managed to become the first foreign airline invested carrier in India. I have managed to have an airline in India. Now we have to deliver what we said we are going to deliver to the people. Q: Have you met Subramanian Swamy who has challenged foreign airline investments in a court and what do you have to say to him? I don't know Mr Swamy. Never met him. We will certainly meet one day. He will see the benefits of AirAsia India entry to Indian aviation. He had to do what he had to do. We have to do what we have to do. There is no grudge from our side. We are just happy we got the AOP (air operating permit). Q: The AirAsia licence is subject to a court decision. Does that worry you? I mean the government of India has already decided on allowing foreign airlines to invest in India, so it's the moot point that government of India didn't want new airlines they would not have given licence in the first place. That's what you meant, right? So I don't really see how that ever was an issue. Q: What would you say to rivals like IndiGo and other low-cost airlines in India with whom you will compete? I have seen many airlines before me and many have started after me in the last 12 years. A new Indonesian carrier has just started in our market. I never objected to it. You can't pull back competition. Let the consumer decide who is better. My focus is on my airline not what others do. In a a market of 1 billion people, there are structural issues to correct. It's a big enough market for all of us. I also would like to say Mittu (AirAsia India chief executive Mittu Chandilya) has done a great job -- I mean here is a man with little aviation experience, young and energetic who is thrown into a gang of wolves, he jumped into it and came out well. That's what we do, we empower people. Q: When is the AirAsia India board meeting? In the new few weeks. I should be flying down to India soon. Q: Tata's second airline investment with Singapore Airlines is also starting soon. How will you ensure you don’t cannibalize each other? Well, we haven't. Let's see what happens when they start. We have got a bit of headstart over Tata-SIA. Even though there will be some cannibalization... My goal is not to steal into IndiGo, SpiceJet marketshare but to grow the market. I also think most airlines and airports are bleeding, it's a great opportunity for the new government to re-look at aviation as a whole. Q: Do you plan to fly to expensive airports of Delhi and Mumbai? We might fly to Delhi and Mumbai. Q: Will Chennai remain AirAsia India’s hub as earlier proposed or is it being shifted to Bangalore? Wait and see. Mittu will have to present it to the board. Nothing is ever definite in AirAsia. Source: Mint http://www.livemint.com/Companies/h9DE0oIezPOyu6EiT32U8K/We-have-a-headstart-over-TataSIA-Tony-Fernandes.html