AirAsia India signs one-year deal with Aircel Chennai Open as Official Airline

Chennai: The organizers of the Aircel Chennai Open today announced that the tournament has entered into a new association with AirAsia India as the Official Airline of the USD 4,50,000 tournament. The association with the airline is currently for a one-year period.
.
As India and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event, the Aircel Chennai Open has grown into a spectacular sporting extravaganza where the best in the world compete for glory. The 19th edition of the tournament, India and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour event, will be held at Chennai’s SDAT Stadium from December 30th 2013 to January 5th 2014. It features one of the strongest playing fields ever, with an impressive lineup of talent including top 20 players Stanislas Wawrinka, Mikhail Youzhny, Fabio Fognini, Benoit Paire and India’s Somdev Devvarman among others. Both Indian and International participants will compete for the coveted title.

AirAsia India is the Indian subsidiary of AirAsia, the worlds best low cost airline. AirAsia India has the vision of making “Flying possible for every Indian” who are currently underserved with poor connectivity and high fares. Earlier this year, AirAsia India submitted a request to start a joint venture, partnering Tata Sons Limited and Mr. Arun Bathia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt. Ltd., and was granted a formal approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (“FIPB”) of India two months later in April. The airline has been granted the no objection certificate by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is currently awaiting an Air Operating Permit from the DGCA to kick-start its operations.

At present, AirAsia through its operations based in Thailand and Malaysia already connect Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruchirapalli (Trichy), Kochi and Kolkata to Asean and beyond. AirAsia has been named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for five consecutive years in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Speaking about the association, Mittu Chandilya, CEO, AirAsia India, said, “We are excited to associate with Aircel Chennai Open as an Official Sponsor for the 2014 edition, being an ex-juniors tennis player this is an event that is close to my heart. Through India’s only and Asia’s leading ATP World Tour event, we seek to take our award winning, innovative, affordable brand to Indian travelers in the promising local travel market here. We believe our association with the definitive ATP World Tour destination in South Asia will be a mutually rewarding and beneficial one and take this opportunity to wish the organizers the very best.

Ashu Jindal, COO, IMG Reliance said, “Aircel Chennai Open is glad to enter into this association with AirAsia India. We trust that the tournament will open new avenues for the airline to build great visibility in the airline sector in India. We thank them for placing their trust in us as a sporting brand.”