Despite parting ways with Tata Group, AirAsia Group is pressing ahead with its India market expansion, focusing on rising air travel demand between India and Southeast Asia. Thai AirAsia X, the long-haul, low-cost airline based at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, launched its maiden operations to India on Sunday with direct flights between Delhi and Bangkok. The airline is starting with twice-weekly flights on Wednesdays and Sundays, planning to increase the frequency to four flights per week starting January 15, 2025. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia X, expressed enthusiasm over the launch. "Yesterday was amazing. We got our permit two weeks ago, started flying, and had a 90% load factor," he noted, sharing that 319 passengers boarded the maiden flight from Delhi to Bangkok, with a surprising 329 passengers on the return journey. The airline aims to cater not only to travellers bound for Bangkok but also to those connecting onward to destinations like Vietnam, China, and Australia. It operates Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft with a seating capacity of 367. This expansion follows AirAsia Bhd's exit from its joint venture with Tata Sons in 2022. The JV previously operated AirAsia India, which has since merged into the Air India Group. Thai AirAsia X’s India entry is supported by a new bilateral air services agreement between India and Thailand, which increases weekly seat allocations by 43% to 46,000. Under the agreement, the additional 14,000 weekly seats will be introduced in two phases, with the second phase kicking in once airlines from both countries utilise 80% of their current capacity. Thai AirAsia X’s entry underscores the growing demand for direct connectivity between India and Southeast Asia. (ET)