If you are often travelling to India and you have been using AirAsia India to reach the main destinations in the country, be advised that they are no longer operating in Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (International) Airport. The airline is now operating from the Mumbai’s airport Terminal 1 to gain better access.
About the Changes
Starting from October the 15th 2019, the budget air carrier will start the operation from Terminal 1. With 23 Airbus fleets and 21 domestic destinations in India alone, the company is trying to reduce the hassle of use – especially from the passengers’ point of view.
Terminal 2 is for international flights while Terminal 1 is for domestic. With the changes, passengers traveling within the country won’t have to go through the hassle of transfer – which is more complex in the international terminal.
Considering that Mumbai is one of the most popular destinations for travelers as well as airlines, AirAsia India has been trying since June 2014 to gain access to Terminal 1. Despite their service for the domestic sector, they are forced to operate from the international terminal. Because of this condition, passengers are the ones suffering the most from the condition. First of all, they must pass through several security checks (the standard for international flights). They need to travel to a different terminal too (this takes times and energy). And most importantly, the two terminals are separated quite far. If you want to make the transfer, you need to use the bus.
But things are about to change starting from October the 15th because AirAsia India now can lineup with other domestic carriers. It is expected to be advantageous and profitable in the long run – especially since passengers won’t have to go through such a hassle to travel.
The chief executive, as well as managing director of AirAsia India, Sunil Bhaskaran, has confirmed that they have set Mumbai up as their fourth (important) hub in India. To improve service and easy access, their operational shift to Terminal 1B is expected to help too.
Read More : AirAsia Moves to Terminal 2 at Soekarno Hatta International Airport
The New Future
As it was mentioned before, Mumbai will be the company’s fourth hub after Kolkata, Bengaluru, and New Delhi. And they have set up new destinations too. They expect to connect Mumbai to other new destinations, such as Bengaluru, New Delhi, Indore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Kochi.
The terminal shift is just a starter because the company has a lot in mind for their future. They may be going to add AirbusA321 (not exactly how many units are available) for their operation – in addition to their 23-units of A320 airbus. This move is expected to provide better access that will retain the company’s success in the future.
