Aloha! AirAsia X now flying to Hawaii

New route: Rafidah presenting a model AirAsia X plane to Dr Zulhasnan.
Looking on are (from left) Benyamin, McCartney and Szigeti.

HONOLULU: AirAsia X, Malaysia’s award-winning long-haul, low-cost carrier, has launched its inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hawaii via Osaka, Japan.

The departure lounge at KLIA2 where passengers boarded flight D7 001 was abuzz with excitement.

Gracing the launch at KLIA2 was AirAsia X chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz who adorned passengers with floral garlands.

After the approximately six-hour flight to Osaka, the celebration continued with Rafidah and AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail present at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Kansai Airport.

In Honolulu, State of Hawaii Chief of Staff Mike McCartney, Malaysian ambassador to the United States Tan Sri Dr Zulhasnan Rafique, and Hawaiian Tourism Authority (HTA) president and CEO George D. Szigeti also attended a press conference.

AirAsia X Group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said when he founded AirAsia with partner Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, they dreamed of democratising air travel for everyone so flying would no longer be a luxury only a few could enjoy.

“The landmark route to Hawaii is a bold new chapter in that quest to help more people travel farther for less. But this is just the beginning, and soon our guests will be able to enjoy flights to even more destinations in the US as we continue to grow our international footprint,” he said.

HTA’s Szigeti said they were deeply honoured AirAsia X had chosen Honolulu as its initial destination to expand its service in the United States.

“We appreciate how this route strengthens our ties with the people and culture of Malaysia.

“AirAsia X customers in Kuala Lumpur and Osaka will enjoy the convenience of this direct service and how it connects them with the welcoming spirit of the Hawaiian culture, the spectacular natural beauty of our islands, and the diversity of Asia-Pacific influences that enriches the experience of being in Hawaii.”

Last week, AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline for the ninth consecutive year, while AirAsia X won the World’s Best Low Cost Airline Premium Cabin and Premium Seat awards for the fifth year in a row at the Skytrax World Airline Awards held at the Paris Air Show.

AirAsia X flies from Kuala Lumpur to Honolulu via Osaka four times a week.

To celebrate the inaugural flight, AirAsia X is offering a one-way fare from RM899 for a standard seat or RM2,999 for the award-winning Premium flatbed, from Kuala Lumpur to Honolulu. The promotional fares are available on airasia.com now through July 2, for travel between Oct 1 and Aug 28, 2018.

-thestar online.