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No cap, but Ratan Tata to be active in AirAsia
Ratan Tata, who will don the role of chief adviser to the board of AirAsia India, will guide the joint venture by giving his active inputs on routes, markets and the overall business plan.
Ratan Tata, who will don the role of chief adviser to the board of AirAsia India, will guide the joint venture by giving his active inputs on routes, markets and the overall business plan.
AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, who arrived in Mumbai on Monday after visiting Chennai, which would be the headquarters of the proposed low-cost airline and Kochi, said he would have loved if Tata could have been chairman "but he didn't want a public role".
AirAsia India is a joint venture between the Tata Group, Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and Arun Bhatia.
The airline is offering the lowest fares possible and plans to add ten planes a year, focusing mainly on under-utilised airports in India.
"Great lunch with Mr Tata though he wouldn't wear the cap," Fernandes Tweeted on Monday.
Cyrus Mistry, chairman of Tata Group and Mittu Chandilya, CEO AirAsia India, were also present at the lunch, said sources. Tata is likely to accompany Fernandes to Delhi on Tuesday and they are likely to meet aviation minister Ajit Singh on Wednesday.
"There is no rush for us to go to Delhi and Mumbai airports, as they are charging crazy. But eventually we may have to go in there, say when these cities have a second airport or low cost terminals," said Fernandes.
