AirAsia X provides connectivity to north India via New Delhi

NEW DELHI: AirAsia X now flies direct to New Delhi, a route crucial to the growing demand for connectivity to northern India, said chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail.

The inaugural AirAsiaX flight on an Airbus330 took off from KLIA 2 on Wednesday and arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here at 10pm.

New Dehli is the low-cost airline's 19th destination across Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Middle East.

Benyamin said the maiden flight saw a flight load of over 90 per cent.

"We are excited over this new route and are able to complement the existing network of our affiliates AirAsia Berhad, Thai AirAsia and Air Asia India," he said at a press-conference at Oberoi Hotel and Resort here on Thursday.

Present was Malaysian High Commissioner to India Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad.

Benyamin said the New Delhi route manifested how AirAsia X had created an impact in India and the route is crucial in view of the growing demand for connectivity between northern India and Kuala Lumpur.

"We plan to provide even greater connectivity to Australia and North Asia via New Dehli," he said, adding that its affiliates, including Thai AirAsia, carried over one million passengers in and out of India.

Benyamin said Indian tourists could connect to other destinations in the region, namely, Sydney, Bali and Hong Kong via KLIA2.

Earlier, Niamun Ashakli told the Indian media that the Malaysian government aimed to lure close to one million Indian tourists to Kuala Lumpur this year.
-thestar online.