AirAsia X announced its latest international route from Kuala Lumpur to Hangzhou, China. AirAsia X will be the first airline to service the route from Kuala Lumpur with five weekly services beginning 04-Feb-08. The latest service is the airline’s second long-haul destination after Gold Coast, Australia, which was launched in Nov-07.
source: Peanuts.aero
AirAsia X of Malaysia is taking a gamble on a barely tested business model by buying 25 brand new wide-bodied airplanes worth US$3.5 billion.
The carrier placed the bet on Nov 2 when it took off for its maiden flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Gold Coast, Australia, that marked the beginning of Southeast Asia’s first long-distance budget carrier service.
AirAsia X took to the skies just 15 months after the idea of setting a long-haul no-frills service was first floated.
Industry critics are now watching to see whether long-haul no-frills flights will succeed in the market, as perceived by AirAsia X’s investors, including Virgin Group and AirAsia, the region’s largest low-cost carrier (LCC). Senior executives of AirAsia acknowledge that AirAsia X is indeed a gamble, albeit a calculated one with potential to win.
source: bangkokpost.com
AirAsia Bhd will today sign a letter of intent with Shipbuilding Industry Group with a view to establishing a joint venture low-cost airline in Vietnam.
AirAsia, in a filing with Bursa Malaysia, said the proposed partnership would focus on securing the licence to operate a new Vietnamese airline that would serve domestic, regional and international routes.
source: The Star Online
Air Asia X has said that it will announce its first Indian and Australian destination in the coming days, including the UK, Middle East, India and China.
Air Asia is an offshoot of Asia’s biggest low cost airline Air Asia.
source: luchtzak.be
British billionaire Richard Branson of Virgin Group is touted to be taking a stake in Malaysia’s new AirAsia long-haul budget airline.
Branson will take a 20 pct stake in Fly Asian Express (FAX), teaming up with Asia’s aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes to run flights from Malaysia to China, Europe and Australia, the newspaper reported, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
source: Forbes
Malaysia’s home-grown budget carrier AirAsia Bhd plans to launch its first flight to India towards end of 2008 and its first destination is likely to be Amritsar in Punjab. “I am really limited by the planes and the earliest we can look at is the third quarter of 2008.
“‘I like Amritsar, many Sikhs have written to me but I need to know more about India. I only know about their music and cricket,'” AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes told reporters after speaking at the one-day Low Cost Airline Symposium in Mumbai here Wednesday.
AirAisa X, the long haul budget carrier of AirAsia, is being prepared to do longer destinations and the huge Indian aviation market, growing at 38 percent annually, appears to be on the company’s route.
Asia’s top budget carrier AirAsia will fly direct to Vientiane in Laos from Kuala Lumpur from July.
The airline’s chief executive Tony Fernandes said: “‘Our aim is to become an Asian airline. Without a doubt, the resumption of a direct air link after nearly a 10-year hiatus will spur economic benefits.’â€
“‘That is the beauty of a low cost carrier. We can fly to destinations which others don’t,’†he said.
fuente: Business Times
The Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia yesterday announced a three-year partnership with the British Formula One team AT&T Williams.
In addition to Manchester United, in fact, the Malaysian carrier has chosen to win new markets through the sports world.
The airline brand will be displayed on the helmets of Nico Rosberg and Alex Wurz, and on the nose of the cars.
source: Avionews
Malaysia’s low-cost airline AirAsia today launched a new long-haul budget airline named AirAsia X which will begin flying to destinations in China, India and Europe in July.AirAsia X will be a collaboration between AirAsia, owned by Tony Fernandes, and Fly Asian Express, or FAX, a small airline serving rural routes in Malaysia.
“‘The launch of AirAsia X will bring independence to the long haul low-cost traveller, by providing a choice of service for their long haul travel requirements,'” Fernandes said at the launch of the newairline.
The airline has received approval to fly to several destinations in Europe, China, India and Australia, he said.
source: Sun2surf
Malaysia’s budget airline AirAsia is in discussions to form the world’s first low-cost global air network with Britain’s Virgin and easyJet, a company official said Tuesday.
Talks have begun to form an alliance that would result in long-haul, low-cost flights, the AirAsia spokeswoman said on the condition of anonymity.
“The discussions aren’t finalised yet, so we’ll have to wait for an official announcement before we can give details,” she said.
AirAsia was expected to make an “important announcement” by Friday, fuelling speculation that statements would be made regarding its long-haul plans, the Star daily reported Monday.
