KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 – Hybrid carrier, Malindo Air is now aiming to commence flights to its maiden Indian destination, New Delhi, in September this year.
It had earlier set an August target for the inaugural flight into the Indian capital.
Malindo Airways Chief Executive Officer Chandran Rama Muthy said the airline had received the necessary approvals from the Indian Transport Ministry, and was now awaiting the green light from the Civil Aviation Ministry.
“It is too early to commence flying by August. Maybe, we can start our sales by then. We will need at least a month after the launch, to fly,” he told Bernama.
Other than New Delhi, he said Malindo had also received approvals at home to fly to Mumbai, and a few other south Indian destinations.
“We are receiving encouraging response from both governments, in addition to an immense level of support from our parent companies,” he added.
Although the frequency and type of aircraft that Malindo will use for the five-hour plus route is still uncertain, the return fare is expected to be around Rs17,000 (RM887).
The fare is almost 50 per cent lesser than what is being charged now for the route generally.
Malindo operates Boeing’s Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range).
At present, national carrier Malaysia Airlines is the sole Malaysian airline operating flights to New Delhi.
AirAsia X previously flew the New Delhi and Mumbai routes but both were axed in 2012, with high operating costs, being cited.
However, the airline had indicated renewed interest in the routes, to serve as a feeder, following AirAsia’s foray into India, and given the fact that Indian aviation rules do not permit new airlines to operate international routes for the first five years of operations.
The routes can also provide a strong domestic northern India connectivity for the soon to-be-operational AirAsia India, a 49:30:21 venture between AirAsia, Tata Sons and Telstra Tradeplace of Indian investor Arun Bhatia.
– BERNAMA
