An update on major issues and events from the past

AirAsia X celebrates 3rd anniversary. AirAsia X (AAX) revolutionised longhaul travel by offering low-cost services when it burst onto the aviation scene three years ago.

THEN AAX was formed to complement AirAsia’s shorthaul services and provide low-cost, medium- and longhaul services. It commenced operations on November 2, 2007 with four direct weekly flights to Gold Coast, Australia, from low-cost carrier terminal KLIA in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. AAX injected 1,260 additional weekly seats that eased the access shortage between Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane via Sydney. In February 2008, it launched its second route – daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Hangzhou in China.

NOW AAX has nine aircraft in its fleet, of which seven are Airbus A330-300 and two are A340-300. It flies to 11 destinations in Asia-Pacific and Europe. This year, it started flights to Mumbai (May 6), Delhi (Aug 4)and Tehran (August 4). Later in the year, it will add Seoul (November 1) and Haneda in Japan (December 9) to its network. With its novel concept, AAX has created a new segment of travellers. The difference in airfare between a full-service airline and longhaul budget carrier AAX is about RM1,000 (US$323), more if booked at least a month in advance. 

FUTURE AAX will take delivery of 18 A330s in stages up to 2016 and 10 A350s from 2017 onwards. The A330s will further link Kuala Lumpur with six core markets. These are Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, India and the Middle East. The A350s will be used to connect direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and four or five European cities as well as one or two North American cities.

-TTG Asia.