Amid reports that AirAsia Group is keen to start its India venture by May-June and not towards the end of the year as announced earlier, Chief Executive Tony Fernandes on Tuesday said he has selected the CEO for his proposed airline venture with the Tatas.
“I have selected the CEO for AirAsia India. A very smart boy from the South, Madras (Chennai). An amazing CV. Will impress all...,” Fernandes tweeted today without identifying him.
The announcement of selection of the CEO for the to-be launched carrier comes ahead of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) meeting slated for tomorrow to take AirAsia proposal for approval, and reports in a section of the media that Fernandes is keen to start his operations as early as May-June.
Late last month, Air Asia’s investment arm AirAsia Investment had moved an application with FIPB seeking approval for the JV in which AirAsia would hold 49 per cent stake with the rest being held by Tata Sons (30 per cent) and Arun Bhatia’s Telstra Tradeplace holding 21 per cent.
Fernandes had recently said the new airline would be based in Chennai and in the initial phase concentrate on destinations in the South where AirAsia already operates and would also focus on providing connectivity to small towns.