No immediate plans to enter India: AirAisa

A plan to buy 100 Airbus aircraft will be submitted to the board of Asia's largest budget carrier, AirAsia Bhd, in about two weeks, the airline's CEO, Tony Fernandes, said on Friday, in a deal that could be worth $9 billion. He also said he had no immediate plans to enter the Indian market because he thought the aviation fuel tax and airport charges were still too high.

Reuters reported earlier this month that AirAsia was putting the final touches on the deal, ending a flirtation with Canada's Bombardier. Fernandes said the order will involve a mix of aircraft and not just Airbus A320s.

"I'll be submitting it to the board in two weeks," Fernandes told Singapore's Foreign Correspondents Association.

AirAsia, with an operating fleet of more than 100 aircraft, has ordered a total of 375 Airbus jets as part of dramatic expansion plans that now include the acquisition of Indonesia's Batavia Air. It has said it will accelerate deliveries as rising demand helps it offset high fuel costs.

Turning to India, which last week said it will allow foreign carriers to take stakes of up to 49 percent in Indian airlines, Fernandes said he had no immediate plans to enter the market because he thought the aviation fuel tax and airport charges were still too high.

Indian newspapers had speculated AirAsia could be the first overseas carrier to take advantage of the new rules.

ASIAN BANKS, AIRASIAX IPO

Fernandes, who owns Formula One team Caterham, said he is in Singapore to interest Asian bankers in financing aviation deals that historically have been dominated by European lenders.

The F1 race in Singapore had attracted financiers from around the region, he said.

"We're trying to get Asian banks interested. I think by introducing Asian bankers to the aviation market, costs will reduce. Asian banks have much more liquidity than European banks," he said.

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