But it needs to solve issues with MAS over flights to four cities
PETALING JAYA: The AirAsia group plans to venture into India in a big way but it has to first address some issues with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) over flights to four major cities there, said AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.
The four cities are Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, currently serviced by MAS.
“Our growth momentum should not be stopped,” Fernandes told StarBiz. “Ideally, we would like to fly to as many cities as we can, pending us getting the rights. But not the four (cities) because there are some issues with MAS. The four (cities) may be possible next year.”
Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes The issues concern royalties and free and discounted tickets, which are arrangements MAS has with Air India for the four cities.
However, AirAsia can wait till Jan 1 to fly into the four cities if it does not want to share costs as the MAS/Air India agreement lapses by Dec 31, 2009.
But there is nothing to stop AirAsia plying other routes into the Indian subcontinent this year as long as it gets the rights to do so.
The rights may be pending, with Fernandes saying, “We have been warmly welcomed by the Indian government as they see us bringing tourism and economic benefits.
“We have always said that we will first focus on Malaysia, then South-East Asia and China. Our expansion into India will be this year and the next and India is going to be a very big growth story for us.”
Given the issues with MAS, Fernandes said AirAsia would ply the Kochi, Coimbatore, Trivandrum and even Colombo and Maldives routes this year.
“Our experience with the first flight to Tiruchirappalli City since December has been very good and our focus will be more of the South Indian points,” he added.
As for AirAsia X, the long-haul budget airline is still toying with the idea to ply the Bangkok-Amritsar route this year.
Dehli and Mumbai will be part of AirAsia X’s route expansion plan while Hyderabad and Bangalore will be plied by AirAsia next year, according to Fernandes.
85 comments:
I do hope air Asia flies to Coimbatore soon, I shall be one of the first to travel, if it commences flights by the middle of June
airasia must start coimbatore service soon. i am interested to fly to coimbatore in airasia.
It's seems like an interesting place to u, may i know any special on this city?
My Reply to AirAsia Fan Club.
Hi,
I lived in that city previously. Now, I am in Melbourne. I travel often to Coimbatore. Excellent weather, beautiful city life, beautiful rural life as well, excellent mountain sceneries, polite people, second best water in the world (not confirmed though), industrial city, agricultural base as well, centrally located to all major cities in South India, well connected to the rest of India by rail, road and air, international and domestic visitors love the place. It was recently ranked one of the best cities in India to invest and live in. Immense potential in II sector and engineering. Many major international and national companies have set up shop and more intend setting up. Rapidly growing and expanding city populationwise, areawise and economically too. Take a trip to Coimbatore and you will want to go back there. These are not my words, but words of foreigners from the US and Melbourne whom I met. also many Indians from the North and South of the country love the place. The surrounding Western ghats, the neighbouring Kerala and Karnataka, the beauty of Tamilnadu itself all combined make Coimbatore one of the best places on this planet.
Unlike other cities or towns in India, you can get off the plane to excellent climate and cleanliness. Why do you want to spoil your holiday in india right from getting off the plane at some hot and (or)dirty place? Get off at clean, green and cool Coimbatore. air Asia will succeed in its business at Coimbatore and will want to expand operations there.
Thanks for your intro on this exciting city. I believe you dun have problems traveling from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur using Airasia X. As Airasia X this year will be focus on new route to China City, and Airasia is currently flying to Tiruchirapali( the city which is nearby Coimbatore from the map,the exact destination i am not sure) I dun think it will launch the KL- Coimbatore in this year..
By the way as you are in Melbourne, May i know how famous is Airasia brand there from your knowlege?
The Air Asia brand is doing well in Australia and is growing.
If you see the original post of this page you will notice that CEO Mr Tony Fernandez said that Air Asia will be flying to Coimbatore this year.
Here is some compiled info on Coimbatore
A small collection of videos and text on Coimbatore.
Emerging IT hub NDTV
http://www.in.com/active18/watchnow/watchvideo_mc.php?autono=345659
Coimbatore Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coimbatore
Places of interest in and around Coimbatore.
Coimbatore tourist centres, places of worship, shopping
http://coimbatore.nic.in/tourism.html
The Isha centre – one hour from Coimbatore airport
http://www.ishafoundation.org/
Palakkad – The home of Ayurveda - 1 hour from Coimbatore airport
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7PZNXaoOng
The Nilgiris – foothills 1.5 hours from Coimbatore airport. Other towns in The Nilgiris take a bit longer to reach.
http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/
OOty
http://www.ooty.com/
Mudumalai wild life sanctuary
http://www.mudumalai.net/
Coonoor
http://www.coonoor.com/about.htm
Top Slip is near Pollachi which is 1 hour from Coimbatore
http://www.coimbatore.com/pollachi/topslip.htm
see also info on Valparai
Palani hill temple 2.5 hors from Coimbatore airport
http://murugan.org/temples/palani.htm
Other near places are:
Munnar
http://www.munnar.com/
Kodaikanal
http://www.kodaikanal.org/
yes.. i have left out that part. As in Airasia website, the next route open is Colombo in Sri Lanka. So hopefully the route to Coimbatore is able to open by the middle of June as u wish..
Thanks. I am in sinagpore. Basically i am from coimbatore. i too wish airasia should start direct service to coimbatore ASAP.
SILKAIR is operating direct flights between singapore-coimbatore weekly thrice.
Ic.. but if Airasia is flying to Coimbatore from Kuala Lumpur with cheaper fare, will u travel from SG to KL to catch the flight?
Yes. ofcourse. since i can visit KL or genting or any attraction while transit.
Mnay of friends who are from coimbatore region will also prefer this type of arrangement
Hi Sampath,
I do feel that many Singaporeans will take a flight from KL to Coimbatore if it works out much cheaper than a Silk Air flight from Singapore to Coimbatore and as you say it will give people a chance to see KL as well. I had fallen in love with the city when I visited last. Hopefully there will be Coimbatore flights during my next visit so it will entice me to transit at KL again.
Meanwhile, which part of Coimby are you?
Warren.
Hi Sampath,
I meant to ask which part of Coimby are you from?
Warren.
I thought mostly people will feel KL is nothing special if compare to Singapore. Looks like I am wrong.
As the Swine flu incidents happen, will u guys discontinue your planning for travel? How serious is it within your region?
The bird flu some years ago did create a bit of scare and made people travel. Swine flu or not I'm traveling to Coimbatore. Incidentally, I just read that the Coimbatore airport is screening for swine flu. Courtesy the Hindu: http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/02/stories/2009050257210100.htm
Here in Oz a few people are being tested but no one has been declared positive for swine flu so far.
I feel that this will pass off just like the bird flu.
I meant the bird flu few years ago made people change travel plans.
The situation in Malaysia is under controlled as no suspected case yet.. And the recent news shows tat the Mexico situation is calming down..
Hi Warren,
Sorry for late reply. I am from coimbatore city only ie RS PURAM.
I dont think swine flu will be impact now, since situation is under control now.
KL can attract more peoples since malaysia has more tourist attractions than Singapore. Recently my relatives from coimbatore came to singapore and they want to visit malaysia but due to lack of flight connectivity they return to coimbatore from singapre itself. I think if airasia starts direct flights it will attract more peoples from coimbatore region.
I will fly often between KL and Coimbatore. Hope Air Asia starts soon.
I will fly often between KL and Coimbatore. Hope Air Asia will start soon.
I will fly often between KL and Coimbatore. Hope Air Asia will start soon.
That's okay Sampath.
Welcome Mr Santhosh.
Pls leave Flight to Coimbatore. We r waiting for your valid response. Thanking you.
airasia must start coimbatore service soon. i am interested to fly to coimbatore in airasia.
airasia must start coimbatore service soon. i am interested to fly to coimbatore in airasia.
mmmmmmmm seems more are interested, I thought I was the only one, I think Coimbatoreans are waiting for a budget airline from S.E Asia
I am very much interested to fly in Air Asia to coimbatore. I hope it will happen soon
As Air Asia is going to open route to Colombo, i think they will follow the pipeline schedule to open this route.. Any way will keep you all inform if i get the latest news..
This blog page is difficult to find even when one google's it. Yet, see the positive response to Air Asia's Coimbatore flight. I think there will be more people commenting if it was easily found on google. Hope flights are commenced soon.
Actually if search in google by "Airasia fans" the link will show in the first page. Thanks for your support. How did you find the page?
I found the page when googled Coimbatore and clicked on news and the topic 'Air Asia to go Big in India' came up. I feel there has been good response to the article and hope the management of Air Asia sees this as a positive sign and commence flights to Coimbatore quickly.
I believe Airasia management will as the city is so exciting and there are so much foreign investor going in.. Recently Airasia offer free flight to travel to Australlia, did u manage to grab it?
No I did not grab the free flights since I was busy with work and my next holiday is any time between June and August.
Isn't tat u should be booking now to get the cheaper fare?
Airasia's plans to Coimbatore is a very good news... Warren and Sampath,personally I feel Airasia should not start its services to Coimbatore because Silkair's traffic from Coimbatore will be affected... Since there are no direct flights between CBE and Malaysia now,people might use Silkair to travel between these routes on transit through Singapore. Moreover Silkair is having connection flights to most Malaysian cities like Penang,KL,Kotakinabalu,Kuching,etc and other SE Asian countries... If Airasia starts cheap direct CBE-KL flights the Silkair's passenger traffic from Coimbatore will come down and Silkair will withdraw its Flights to Coimbatore as Srilankan Airlines did. I am still wondering why Srilankan withdrawn its services to Coimbatore which was having a fair Passenger traffic, I used Srilankan twice from Coimbatore and noticed 65-70% seats were occupied. Now people from Coimbatore have to travel to Chennai or Trichy,which is hectic for flying to Colombo. The same shoul not happen with Silkair also.
My reply to Air Asia fan.
I will surely book by Air Asia if it starts flights to Coimbatore, I don't think booking has commenced for Coimbatore.
If Air Asia doesn't fly to Coimbatore soon I will have to fly by Silk Air since Silk Air will drop me off 18 kms from my home in Coimbatore. Why should I travel by Air Asia and get off at hot sultry Tiruchirapalli and then travel to Coimbatore? I don't mind paying more and getting off at Coimbatore
My reply to Shyam.
I don't think Silk Air's Coimbatore Air traffic will be affected much since the population of the city is growing fast and new customers will be added. Also, Silk Air will have to think of bringing it's fare down to compete with Air Asia. My friend traveled by Silk Air recently and said there was a 95% occupancy in both directions of his travel. Even if Silk Air discontinues like Sri lankan, it will come back one day as Coimbatore is growing like Bangalore.
I remember when Bangalore started international services first they did not get much crowd and airlines to fly there. But, now their international passenger travel is as big as or even more than Chennai. Recently BA reduced flights to Chennai and increased flights to B'lore.
Similarly, in Coimbatore there will be a huge volume of international flyers since many middle class families are choosing Coimbatore as their city of residence.
There are a few teething problems in Coimbatore, but in the long run I feel there is going to be a huge volume of international traffic. Many Coimbatoreans live in Europe and The US and I feel those routes will attract more passengers than the S.E Asian routes.
Can we know when will Airasia commence its operations to Coimbatore
Shyam,
I too dont think that silkair will withdraw it services if airasia comes to picture.
There are numerous of migrants from coimbatore working in singapore and KL. so the traffice wont be an issue.
I think Air Asia should commence flights soon. Flights are commencing from today on the extended runway at Coimbatore airport.
Actually Silk Air and Air Asia is targeting different category of customers, Airasia is budget airline which will attract the cost-sensitive customers..
Me too waiting for KL-CBE flight as its hectic to trichy especially if we want to catch trichy-KL as it starts about 9.30 am. We have to travel during night... Hope tony will soon start the service...
I wish Airasia should start coimbatore service soon. I am very much ineterested to visit genting and KL before going coimbatore from singapore.
Coimbatore Airport is also about to get ISO 9001 quality re-certification in another few days. We are eagerly waiting for connections by Airasia. Can we know any special reasons that is hampering Airasia to start flights to Coimbatore
I think Air Asia also wanna open the route ASAP, however there is a lot factor, they might waiting the new plane to be delivered, the approval by the India local Authority, etc.. however i will update the latest news once i get to know...
I think the Indian Government usually delays granting permission to fly especially when it is for Coimbatore.
Here are the Email addresses for the main voices of Coimbatore. Send them some Emails regarding quick granting of permission for Air Asia to fly and also other airport issues so that they could pursue the Central and State Governments with these issues
1)Kongunadu Munnetra Peravai (new regional political party of the Coimbatore region)
kongumakkalperavai@gmail.com
2)Coimbatore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
iccicbe@eth.net
FlyDubai to commence Coimbatore flights
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Indian-carriers-face-FlyDubai-on-Middle-east-air-route/475601
Now, we are eagerly waiting when Air Asia will commence flights.
Actually Malaysia Authority also quite slow in processing. As the new LCCT is still not yet finalise.. thanks for the information on this new low cost carrier.. By the way could u share with us how is the airline market in India? How is the development of the Low cost carrier there?
I think the budget airline market in India is good even now during the global downturn.
Budget national and international flights to Coimbatore for example are doing extremely well with above 90% occupancy on an average.
Silk Air itself which is not a budget airline was more than 95% full in both directions when my friend traveled last month.
As Tony mention in his twitter, he hasn't get the approval for the route to Seoul and Sydney, which he has apply for quite long time b4 (http://twitter.com/tonyfernandes)
So the time taken for Coimbatore might be longer...
Some videos of FlyDubai which plans to fly to Coimbatore
1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaxcV4VMU-0
2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbJ888dz1cI
I think flydubai going to start soon. Atleast by august or september they will start Coimbatore service. So Airasia also need to start immediately.
I am planning to go coimbatore by month september , IF airasia starts service within september, i prefer to go by airasia from singapore.
Actually FlyDubai hub is in Dubai, which connect city to fly to Dubai. For the people who travel from Asean, China, Australia to go to Coimbatore they will still use AirAsia or other Asia airline.. So it will be different market..but it will makes the airline market more competitve and push Airasia to work harder and expand faster..
Expecting Airasia's connection to Coimbatore this year as said by Mr.Tony. And Flydubai's Coimbatore operation will not hamper Airasia's plans to Coimbatore, since it is a different route. Kindly let us know concretely when will Airasia starts its Coimbatore operation, or atleast start a second flight from Trichy with convenient timings or change the timings for existing Trichy flight as early morning flight from Trichy-KL, because the existing Trichy flight starts only at 08.55hrs and reaches KL at 15.40hrs which means the whole day is wasted. I am a frequent traveller from Coimbatore to SE Asian countries, particularly I am a frequent traveller to HCM(Vietnam), there are lots of Travellers from Coimbatore to SE Asian countries like me, so if at all operations to Coimbatore is started by Airasia let it be with convenient timings and convenient connections. I was shocked to check the fares to HCM in Vietnam Airlines and MAS which are much higher than Airasia.
Found interesting after coming to know about Airasia'a plans to Srilanka. Could you share the plans of Airasia Lanka which was planned previously by Airasia. Whether it is a seperate subsidiary like Thai&Indoesia airasia & Which all cities will be connected.
Hi air Asia Fan,
You are in Malaysia I suppose. I think you will be able to tell us when the flights to Coimbatore and elsewhere are starting since, the local and business newspapers do mention these things before other papers do.
Fly Dubai to fly from Dubai to Coimbatore from 14 July, 2009
http://www.flydubai.com/FlydubaiTest/wherewefly.aspx
Bookings have ofically commenced for Flydubai Coimbatore flights.
http://www.flydubai.com/
Hi,
Could anyone tell me if there are any hotels near the LCCT terminal. Last time I had to go to the city.
I prefer to go to a nearby hotel and take rest immediately after the flight arrives at LCCT.
So far Airasia didn't announce the actual date for the route to be opened.. There is the latest Tune Hotels, opened near LCCT, which belong to the Airasia group. So next time Warren can check in there... :)
According to an Air Asia press release, Air Asia KL to Colombo flights begin 15th August.
How far is Tune Hotels From Main Building of KLIA?
The distance is quite near
--7 mins walk to Departure Hall (LCCT)
--Regular bus services to Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), or you may find in this link:
http://www.tunehotels.com/LCCTTransit_KualaLumpur_Malaysia.aspx
I have booked by Silk Air to India for December, waited long enough for Air Asia's announcement on Coimbatore flights.
Where is our Coimbatore flight?
I hear that one more daily service is commencing to Tiruchi.
If Air Asia does a survey on those flights it will be known that many travellers are not from Tiruchi alone, but are from as far as Coimbatore and Kerala using the flight due to its cheapness.
My friend Roy is traveling to Coimbatore on the 8th of December, but has to get off at Tiruchi. I have many other friends from Coimbatore who are using Air Asia too.
Yes. it's launching the new Tiru flight. I think Airasia dun have enough plane for this as this will be under Airasia X category as the distance from Coimbatore to KL is more than 10 hours flight. The KL to Tiru is operate by Airasia as the distance is within 4 hour, so Airasia can open this route using the A320 plane
The distance from Coimbatore and KL will not be more than 4 hours. You can refer Silkair flight which has almost same distance from Coimbatore, so it will not come under AirAsia X category and u must also note that Coimbatore is in India and not anywhere else. I dont know how u calculated the distance from Coimbatore. Even flights to Delhi and Amritsar will take only less than 8 hours.
Sorry. i have make the mistake from there. i search the website as the website showing for Jet Airways, the duration is like tat, i think there is some transit in between, thanks for Shyam for the correction..
What would be the next Airasia destination in India? Airasia should connect Coimbatore atleast by extending any one of their Trichy flight like KL-Trichy-Coimbatore and vice versa. I dont know whether Airasia has rights to operate such route. Eager to see Airasia connecting Coimbatore and other cities in India.
please refer to this link
http://airasiafansclub.blogspot.com/2009/09/airasia-in-talks-with-goi-to-introduce.html , it seems like coimbatore will not open so soon...
I have been working in Kualalumpur for the past 3 years and 4 months. I am from Pollachi, near to coimbatore & I would like to know the latest news about Air Asia service to Coimbatore from KL. Last month we went to India(Trichy) through AirAsia... if Airasia starting the service to KL, that will be very useful to lot of guys in KL.
hi Sam, as the latest news from airasia, Coimbatore is not in the list for the next year new route.. please refer to the latest post http://airasiafansclub.blogspot.com/2009/11/airasia-launches-new-flights-to-three.html
If air-asia does not see the potential, they can start with twice or thrice a week flight. People like us traveling in trichy flights will take the alternative. Will tony look into this? Eagerly waiting.
AirAsia should see the potential from Coimbatore and connect any one of SE Asian destinations in these 3 either Bangkok or KL or Jakarta. There will not be much demand in Jakarta, so I think KL or Bangkok will work well, where there is more connections.
Hi Sir,
Next year june month wrold classical tanil conference going to be held at coimbtaore. Tamil People from all over the world coming to coimbatore. Please start KL-Coimbatore service on remarking the biggest event.
It is high time that Airasia should think connecting Coimbatore. Many of my friends from Coimbatore have booked the tickets on Cochin-KL-Cochin as Cochin is 180Kms from Coimbatore and even my friends from Salem which is 150 Kms from Coimbatore have booked tickets in Cochin-KL-Cochin, you should also note that Trichy is nearer to Salem when you compare with Cochin. Since the fares from Trichy are high, Cochin gets filled. So if airasia connects Coimbatore with KL, I am sure it will have good load factor and even people from Kerala towns like Palghat will use Coimbatore. And Airasia can even promote Ooty as one of the travel destinations for SE asian peoples
I am from Palakkad, working in KL for past 2 years. I am eagerly waiting for Airasia to introduce flights to Coimbatore. It will benefit not only people in Tamilnadu, but also in Kerala
Mmmm Air Asia is starting flights all over. Why not Coimbatore?
Hi, I am from coimbatore and currently working in KL for the last 3 months. Within this period I travelled to twice, one to chennai and one to coimbatore. To coimbatore i flyed to BLR and then took a flight by king fisher. Though cost me, but was convienient as I did not lose any time and reached same day while I attended office for half day of losing the whole day. Also I dont have to travel for insteadanother 6 hrs by road. But it would have been very convienient if there is a direct flight to CBE. Hope Air asia considers it soon. Anyways I am planning to book again via the same route to coimbatore in november.
Air asia better do a survey among the travellers to south India on their actual destination.
My family is interested in flying with Air Asia from Gold Coast to Coimbatore. We are now flying to Chennai and Trichirapalli from Gold Coast and would prefer Coimbatore.
Hope the route to Coimbatore is opened soon (at least in early 2011). I know a lot of people in Brisbane and Gold Coast who would be flying in the Gold Coast to KL and KL to Coimbatore sector.
When will AirAsia launch flights to the South Indian city of Coimbatore?
When will Airasia launch its flights to Coimbatore.
Is this blog active? I don't think so.
we need a daily flight from CBE to KL, I hope Airasia will fulfill it.
Read in the Hindu that air Asia was going to operate from Coimbatore.I hope that happens soon.. We are all waiting for this flight.
Coming soon, a flight from Kovai to BangkokTNN | May 31, 2011, 06.56am IST
CHENNAI/COIMBATORE: Malaysia-based airline Air Asia is planning to make Bangkok a hub for south Indian tourists who want to explore south East Asia. Currently, Air Asia flies only to Kuala Lumpur from south India. Soon, flights will be launched between Bangkok and Coimbatore. "A huge number of Indians fly to Bangkok which is less than two hours from Chennai and other cities in south India. So, we are planning to start services from Chennai, Coimbatore and Tiruchy to Thailand by the end of the year," said Tony Fernandez, CEO of the airline.
Kuala Lumpur is nearly four hours from Chennai; yet the route was successful for the airline as a majority of Indians who wish to travel to south east Asian countries, China and Korea fly via the Malaysian capital. "Typically, more than 80% of the seats are booked in the route," he added.
The airline has found that Thailand a popular destination for Indians from southern states. Air Asia, which has been successful in south east Asia and Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries, is planning to aggressively promote the airline in south India. "We are considering flights to Phuket and Lankawi, two of the most popular destinations in Thailand for Indian tourists. The airline has been getting a lot of requests to fly direct to Lankawi," Fernandez said. Air Asia hopes that the two destinations will be a huge success as several tourists have expressed interest to fly direct to these destinations from south India, he added. The airline may also start services from Calicut. Market and route surveys are on for the project, said an Air Asia official.
As a majority of the people who visit Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands are from north India, Air Asia is also planning to start a flight from Amritsar to Kuala Lumpur. Genting Highlands receives several hundreds of north Indians the First World Hotel, which includes a mall, casino and a theme park, has a separate dining area for Indians.
Airasia's flight plan to Coimbatore will be a good move.
Currently Coimbatore travellers travel to Chennai or Tiruchy to fly to KL or other SEASian countries or Australia.
Airasia's TAmil Announcement in KL -Tiruchy flight is really superb to hear.
http://youtu.be/W9dJYllEhxM
Thanks
Sen
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