After Air Asia, another Malaysian low cost carrier Malindo Air has announced its interest in connecting Tiruchy with Malaysian Capital Kuala Lumpur.
A joint venture of Indonesia’s Lion Air and Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defence Industries, each holding 49 and 51 per cent stakes respectively, has come forward to connect the city with Kuala Lumpur in mid 2013.
According to reports appearing in Malaysian newspapers and websites, the company’s CEO Chandran Ramamurthy said Tiruchy is a priority for the airline’s international operation from Kuala Lumpur using a Boeing 737-900ER aircraft which the airline is yet to take delivery from Boeing.
As of now, Malaysia based low cost carrier Air Asia connects Tiruchy with Kuala Lumpur with 11 service per week from Tiruchy. Air India’s low cost arm Air India Express also operates four flights per week to Kuala Lumpur competing with Air Asia.
However, Air Asia is making a brisk business irrespective of competition from Air India Express and commands a better market share in the passenger traffic segment owing to its low cost business module.
Tiruchy Airport director S Dharmaraj said, “The DGCA and AAI have not received any official communication about the Airline’s connectivity plans to Tiruchy.” However, he is positive about the arrival of another new airline.
For air travellers, an increase in connectivity to any single destination is a boon as far as the airline continues its service. With an air tariff war imminent, ticket prices are slated to be cheaper.