Malaysia-based low-cost carrier AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes said Wednesday if he were operating flights to West Asia from India as AirAsia India intends, the recent big hike in bilateral entitlement for weekly seats for Indian and UAE carriers — seen as a bonanza for Jet Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad — wouldn’t bother him at all. “Protectionism is dead. I believe in the free market and a free economy. You have to compete. I was competing in Southeast Asia against carriers being subsidised by governments. I am a believer in open skies,” Mr Fernandes said, adding he believed in “unbundling” of fares. AirAsia India will keep its check-in baggage limit per passenger at 15 kg within the ticket price.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Fernandes also criticised certain “bizarre” aviation rules in India: such as that a scheduled airline must complete five years of domestic operations to be able to fly abroad. He said some vested interests and negativity within the airline industry were responsible for such rules.