AirAsia India boss Tony Fernandes has hit out at India’s “bizarre” policy of allowing carriers to operate international flights only after five years of domestic operations.
“These are bizarre rules ... that you can’t fly abroad before five years and 20 aircraft (fleet). ... That rule makes no sense. It is a negative for the Indian airlines.”
Fernandes criticised the Indian airline industry for a poor job in explaining the importance of aviation for the economy to the government. “It is a shame that India has lost many years. See what new airlines in the region have done. India has lost because of vested interests even though it has a lot of talent and economic activities.”
“Most of these negativities come from within the industry and ultimately fails the people. ... It is an incredibly self-interested industry,” he said.
Fernandes deems India aviation rules “bizarre”
