AirAsia X will re-start KL-New Delhi and KL-Mumbai routes soon, group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said today.

“AirAsia X will be re-starting routes to India very soon. KL-Bombay and KL-New Dehli are around the corner,” he wrote on social media site Facebook .

The long-haul budget airline axed flights to Mumbai and New Delhi on Jan 31 last year, citing high operating costs. Both routes were started in 2010.

The routes could serve as a feeder for its latest venture in India, given that domestic aviation rules did not permit new airlines to operate international routes for the first five years of operations.

The budget carrier has established AirAsia India, a 49:30:21 joint venture between AirAsia,Tata Sons and Telstra Tradeplace of Indian investor, Arun Bhatia.

The airline, to be based in Chennai, will cater primarily to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Operations are expected to begin by year-end.

- Bernama