AirAsia Group Expands India Operations Post-Tata Partnership Exit

17 Dec 2024 CW Team

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)

Infrastructure Urban

04 May 2026

Jyoti Structures FY26 profit rises 56.5%

Jyoti Structures (JSL) recently reported strong financial results for the quarter and year ended 31 March 2026, driven by disciplined execution, cost management and steady progress across its order book.For Q4 FY2025-26, total income rose 44.2 per cent to Rs 2.41 billion from Rs 1.67 billion in Q4 FY2024-25. EBITDA increased 58.6 per cent to Rs 237 million, while EBITDA margin improved by 89 basis points to 9.84 per cent. Profit before tax grew 53.3 per cent to Rs 188.5 million, and net profit rose 51.9 per cent to Rs 181.4 million.For FY2025-26, total income grew 53.1 per cent to Rs 7.72 bill..

Cat BEPU to Power Doppstadt Separator at IFAT 2026

Caterpillar’s Cat Battery Electric Power Unit (BEPU) has been selected by Doppstadt to power its SWS 6 Spiral Shaft Separator, which will be showcased for the first time at IFAT 2026 in Munich, Germany, from 4–7 May.The compact plug-and-play BEPU is designed to replace a diesel engine within the same space, using the same mounting locations and relative machine position. It integrates the battery, motor, inverter, onboard charging, cooling and controls, enabling OEMs to electrify existing chassis platforms without extensive redesign.Caterpillar and Cat dealer Zeppelin Power Systems have be..

VECV sales rise 6.9% in April 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles, a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, recorded sales of 7,318 units in April 2026, compared to 6,846 units in April 2025, registering 6.9 per cent growth. The total included 7,159 units under the Eicher brand and 159 units under the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,159 units during the month, up 6.6 per cent from 6,717 units in April 2025. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 8.6 per cent to 6,797 units from 6,257 units a year earlier.Exports declined 21.3 per cent, with VECV recording 362 units in ..