View Full Version : AirAsia/AAX:London-March
Asia's first no-frills carrier AirAsia will start flying to Phuket from Langkawi starting end of this year. The decision made weeks after Thai's Premier Thaksin meeting with Malaysia's PM in Langkawi as they agreed to jointly promote the two islands and to establish greater connectivity between the two destionations. AirAsia is also expected to start it's service to Indonesia by first-quarter of next year. The airline is also the first in the world to implement SMS booking for it's customers.
AirAsia Website (http://www.airasia.com)
Good plan to promote two famous resort islands. :)
Premier Thaksin's Shin Corp. is in talks with Tony Fernandes's upstart to take a controlling stake worth up to 500 million baht (S$21.8 million) in AirAsia's Thai unit.
AirAsia will be offering low-cost flights between Thailand and Malaysia beginning next month.
Kevin Scully, managing director of independent research house NetResearch-Asia, said a tie-up with Mr Thaksin 'would definitely make them more credible and give them more financial muscle'.
AirAsia, which already has a fast-growing domestic network in Malaysia, recently applied for a licence from the Thai government to operate services to various destinations in the country, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket. With seven planes currently in operation, and another 13 more to be commissioned by June next year, it is the fastest-growing low-cost carrier in the world.
Having already sewn up major domestic routes in Malaysia, the Kuala Lumpur-based company is now keen to establish a regional footprint. It has recently been in talks with Singapore's Changi International Airport to get discounts on airport fees so that it can operate flights there.
If a deal with Shin Corp materialises, it won't be the first foreign interest in AirAsia. In June, two Saudi-based funds - IDB Infrastructure Fund and Crescent Venture Partners - pumped in some US$20 million into the company.
Utusan Malaysia: 21st. Sept. 2004
SEPANG Sept 20 - Low fare airline, AirAsia is soon to build a new flight simulator centre to provide training for its own pilot.
Its chairman, Datuk Pahamin A. Rajab said that the two-storey simulator building with an area of 53,782 sq ft plus an additional land capacity for future expansion, would be completed by February next year.
The building will have six full flight simulators, two of which will be operational by April next year, he said.
Pahamin said the building would have a complete computer based training room, a multiple purpose hall which could be converted into classrooms and rooms for training devices to cater for other training programmes designed for AirAsia's engineers, pilots and cabin crew members.
"For today, we mark the beginning of AirAsia's first simulator building complex which is a testament of AirAsia's dedication to provide quality training and development to our pilots. We started our own pilot training programme with Malaysian Flying Academy to grow a ready pool of pilots in line with our expansion.
"The building of our very own simulator complex further seals AirAsia's commitment to not only produce pilots that will contribute to Malaysian's aviation industry, but also to provide the necessary tools to give quality training for these pilots to ensure that the highest quality and safety standards are met," he said at a ground breaking ceremony officiated by Transport Minister, Datuk Sri Chan Kong Choy here Monday.
Pahamin said AirAsia had ealier signed a 10-year aviation training management with CAE, a leading provider of integrated training solutions and advanced simulation and control technologies to the aviation industry, to install and operate flight simulators to train Boeing 737-300/400/500 pilots.
AirAsia presently uses simulators in London, Kunming and Zuhai in China, Jakarta, Manila, Australia and Malaysia for its pilot training exercise.
Meanwhile, its chief executive officer, Tony Fernandes said the cost of the building would be about RM11 million.
The AirAsia group including its sister company, Thai AirAsia presently operates a fleet of 20 Boeing 737-300.
The Star: 8th October 2004
AIRASIA Bhd, which has received regulatory approvals for a main board listing, is proposing a public offer of 700.5 million shares of 10 sen each, of which 116.8 million will be allocated for public subscription.
A total of 23.4 million shares are for eligible directors, employees and business associates of the company, while 560.4 million will be privately placed to Malaysian and foreign institutional investors.
In a statement yesterday, group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said: “Since AirAsia began operations as a low-fare airline in South-East Asia in January 2002, we have increased our fleet size from two to 22 aircraft and achieved profitability despite the difficulties faced by the airline industry.
“We are also well positioned in a new and competitive low-cost carrier market and well established with hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Bangkok through Thai AirAsia.”
AirAsia currently operates 100 domestic and international flights daily from two hubs in Malaysia – the KL International Airport and Senai International Airport – as well as Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok.
“We believe that a listing status will allow us to grow and strengthen our position as a leading low-fare, no-frills carrier in South-East Asia,” Fernandes added.
23rd November 2004
Source: Blomberg
By Chan Tien Hin and Khoo Hsu Chuang in Kuala Lumpur
AirAsia lists in KL at 16% premium
Shares of AirAsia, South-East Asia's newly listed discount airline, rose about 16 per cent to 1.45 ringgit when they first traded, on expectation a drop in fuel prices and new routes to China and Indonesia will make it profitable.
This compared with the 1.25 ringgit price at which the shares were offered to institutional investors. The airline raised 863 million ringgit last month, planning to use the proceeds to buy aircraft to expand its fleet of 24 Boeing 737-800s.
"It's a very decent debut, bearing in mind it's in a very difficult industry given the oil price volatility, competition and terrorism fears," said Choo Swee Kee, chief investment officer of KLCS Asset Management in Kuala Lumpur. "AirAsia has a lot of potential, it has so many routes to tap."
The low-fare airline, the first to fly in South-East Asia, plans to start new routes to China and Indonesia. The share issue will help fund an order for as many as 80 aircraft that chief financial officer Raja Mohd Azmi Raja Razali said might be placed with Airbus or Boeing as early as next month.
The carrier's business prospects have improved since it sold shares to investors on October 25, due to a 10 per cent drop to $US57.25 a barrel last week in the price of jet fuel, which makes up about a third of AirAsia's operating costs.
The issue was arranged by Credit Suisse First Boston and Malaysia's RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers. Individual investors were offered AirAsia's stocks at 1.16 ringgit a share.
AirAsia started flying in 2001 with three 737-300 planes. The carrier may increase the number of planes it flies almost fivefold to 116 aircraft by 2006, the prospectus said. That would give it a bigger fleet than national carriers such as Garuda and Malaysian Airline System.
"There is a lot more potential in the company," AirAsia executive director Kamarudin Meranun said yesterday. "Don't look at it as just a Malaysian company but [for] growth in the region."
AirAsia, headed by former Warner Brothers executive Tony Fernandes, 40, operates from Malaysia and Thailand. It will take delivery of 12 Boeing planes by June and is in talks with the Chicago-based plane maker and rival Airbus about buying as many as 80 more aircraft.
"Any investor aiming to buy in Malaysia will probably pick up some AirAsia stock," said Chong Sui San of Allianz General Insurance.
As many as nine budget airlines may be flying by the end of this year in South-East Asia, a region that previously offered no discount air service. They include AirAsia's Thai business, Thai Airways International's Nok Air and Orient Thai Airlines.
Singapore Airlines' Tiger Airways and Valuair started flying out of the island state this year, while Jetstar Asia, Qantas's Singapore venture with Temasek Holdings, will start flying next month.
Business Times Singapore: 20th. December 2004
(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian discount carrier AirAsia yesterday said it will buy another 40 Airbus aircraft and launch flights to China by March 2005 to maintain its position as Asia's leading budget airline.
'We will exercise the option to buy another 40 A320 jets. And if the price is good, we will (further) increase the number of Airbus jets,' AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes told AFP.
His comments follow AirAsia's signing on Friday of a deal to buy 40 A320 jets valued at US$2.5 billion from Europe's Airbus, which beat out US aerospace giant Boeing for the contract.
The new aircraft would be introduced gradually into AirAsia's entire fleet, including its Indonesian and Thai subsidiaries, with the first due for delivery in January 2006.
The purchase is part of plans for regional expansion as the carrier looks to the Chinese market.
Mr Fernandes said Chinese aviation authorities had given AirAsia preliminary approval to fly to China and expected to start flights by March.
The airline is in the midst of securing approvals to fly to key Chinese cities such as Xiamen, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Hainan from Bangkok through its subsidiary Thai AirAsia. Mr Fernandes said the first destination in mainland China would likely be Xiamen. AirAsia already flies to Macau.
Analysts said AirAsia's entry into China would boost its revenue given strong trade ties and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Azrul Azwar, senior economist with MIDF Bhd, told AFP the purchase of new jets would ensure AirAsia remained the dominant discount carrier in Asia compared with rival budget airlines operating in Singapore. 'They will have the muscle and capacity to be Asia's number one,' he pointed out.
AirAsia currently has 26 Boeing 737 aircraft which will be phased out.
Mr Azrul said a bigger fleet would help the carrier to expand the number of routes and increase passenger volume. 'Their revenue is expected to increase,' he said.
Mr Fernandes said Boeing could learn a lesson from European rival Airbus.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes' marketing vice-president Randy Baseler had said the US manufacturer had not been able to clinch the AirAsia deal mainly because Airbus had undercut them.
'This is business. Boeing should study why they lost. You (Baseler) sit there and blame everybody,' Mr Fernandes said.
Mr Fernandes said since Airbus gets more orders, it was able to increase production, reduce costs and build bigger market share.
Launched as a budget carrier in December 2001 with just two aircraft, AirAsia has defied the sceptics to become a significant player in the air industry and imitated by startled national carriers.
Mr Fernandes, however, said he was not worried about competition from the new Singapore-based budget carriers.
AirAsia's sharp takeoff has drawn the attention of national carriers in the region, with two having launched their own Singapore-based budget airlines in AirAsia's slipstream this year.
Australia's Qantas has a 49 per cent stake in Jetstar Asia while Singapore Airlines (SIA) backs Tiger Airways. A third, ValuAir, was started by former SIA managing director, Lim Chin Beng.
Meanwhile, according to a report in the New Straits Times, AirAsia has brought almost 500,000 tourists - mostly Europeans and Australians - into Malaysia in less than a year since it introduced its Thailand and Indonesia flights. - AFP
Straits Times Singapore: 20th. December 2004
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN discount carrier AirAsia will buy 40 Airbus planes and launch flights to China by March to maintain its place as Asia's leading budget airline.
'We will exercise the option to buy another 40 A320 jets. And if the price is good, we will increase the number of Airbus jets,' AirAsia chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said yesterday.
His comments followed AirAsia's signing on Friday of a deal to buy 40 A320 jets valued at US$2.5 billion (S$4.1 billion) from Europe's Airbus, which beat rival Boeing to the contract.
The new planes would be introduced gradually into AirAsia's entire fleet, with the first due for delivery in January 2006. AirAsia now has 26 Boeing 737 jets which will be phased out.
The purchase is part of expansion plans as AirAsia looks to China.
Mr Fernandes said the Chinese aviation authorities had given AirAsia preliminary approval to fly to China, and he expected to start flights by March.
AirAsia is securing approvals to fly to key cities Xiamen, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Hainan from Bangkok through its unit, Thai AirAsia. Mr Fernandes said the first destination in mainland China was likely to be Xiamen. AirAsia already flies to Macau.
MIDF senior economist Azrul Azwar said the purchase would ensure AirAsia remained the dominant discount carrier in Asia compared with rivals Valuair, Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia. 'It will have the muscle and capacity to be Asia's No. 1.' -- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
jpatokal
21-12-04, 07:57 PM
Mr Fernandes said Chinese aviation authorities had given AirAsia preliminary approval to fly to China and expected to start flights by March.
The airline is in the midst of securing approvals to fly to key Chinese cities such as Xiamen, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Hainan from Bangkok through its subsidiary Thai AirAsia. Mr Fernandes said the first destination in mainland China would likely be Xiamen. AirAsia already flies to Macau.
Excellent! Now if China would just relax their visa policies a little to make it easier to visit...
By Tony Emmanuel
No-frills airline AirAsia’s plan to sponsor an English Premier League club is part of founder Tony Fernandez’s plan to promote Kuala Lumpur as a travel destination.
Chelsea FC’s partnership with Middle Eastern carrier Emirates has brought Dubai immense benefits, and he is hoping to do the same for Kuala Lumpur.
"We are in the final stage of negotiations with parties representing Everton FC," said AirAsia's group chief executive, confirming a New Straits Times report today.
"From (Kuala Lumpur), we can transfer European tourists to popular destinations in the country, even to Jakarta and Bangkok," Fernandez told NST.
Connections would be at fares which are "absolute bargains" to the average European traveller at prevailing exchange rates, he said.
NST has learnt that the budget carrier was not the only airline being courted. This means Fernandez is keeping his fingers crossed that AirAsia’s offer to counter that of a foreign airline will be accepted.
London agents representing Everton FC, now in Kuala Lumpur, began courting corporate sponsors from Malaysia after word leaked a club sponsor was considering a deal with a rival side.
Thailand's largest brewer Chang Beer, which sponsors Everton’s jerseys, may be considering an offer from a far more popular Merseyside team, Liverpool.
Chang Beer’s £1.5 million deal with Everton ends in May, but comes with an option for another year.
Having AirAsia emblazoned on Everton’s jerseys is just the first step.
"This is merely part of the entire corporate endorsement package I envision," said Fernandez.
Fernandez likened AirAsia to Everton , which has more than 500,000 card-carrying fans and a global market for replica jerseys.
"AirAsia, like Everton, may not have the track record as other top airlines, but we are getting there."
The club’s fourth place in the EPL makes sponsoring its jerseys an ideal way for AirAsia to make itself known to English travellers.
If Everton maintains its position until the end of the season, it would qualify for the 2005/2006 Champions League, which would bring substantial television coverage.
By Tony Emmanuel
Malaysia’s home-grown budget carrier AirAsia is a step away from sponsoring an English Premier League club.
The club is believed to be Everton and negotiations are in the final stages. Should the deal be concluded, AirAsia will have its name emblazoned on Everton's jerseys for the 2005/06 season.
While no official confirmation was forthcoming, a source said that marketing agents representing Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Liverpool and Middlesbrough are in Kuala Lumpur for negotiations with interested parties.
The source added that several proposals were being tabled for the consideration of corporations and the Government.
Following Proton's sponsorship success with another Premiership side, Norwich City, marketing agents from Britain have been selling the concept that corporate endorsement in the EPL is a highly attractive marketing option.
"It's not only an opportunity to make one's presence felt in the English market, but the EPL has a worldwide television audience of more than 350 million in 100 countries." It will be a perfect opportunity for AirAsia to expand its horizon in the region.
Everton's current jersey sponsor is Chang Beer, Thailand's largest brewer. The £1.5 million (RM10.5) deal ends in May.
jpatokal
01-01-07, 07:35 PM
The next step forward for the LCC juggernaut? Earth Times (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/16968.html) reports:
Branson is talking to Air Asia's Tony Fernandes and easyJet's Stelios Haji-Ioannou to set up the joint venture that will be the first low cost airline offering global services. Media reports in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur said the talks are in advanced stages and the flights may become operational by July 2007.
Sources said the first service will be between Kuala Lumpur and Manchester in Britain and Amritsar in India. These will be followed by flights to Hangzhou near Shanghai and Tianjin near Beijing. The new airline will offer fares as low as $27 for destinations in China, while fares to British airports from Kuala Lumpur's Low Cost Terminal will be between $ 83 and $695.
jpatokal
06-01-07, 12:29 PM
(...no wonder the stewardesses are smiling?)
BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6233295.stm?ls):
Malaysian aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes has unveiled a new no-frills long-haul airline, Air Asia X.
The venture - a tie-up between Air Asia and Fly Asian Express (FAX) - will launch in July and fly to destinations in India, China and Europe. ...
Mr Fernandes told the BBC that Air Asia X flights to London would be priced from $80 to $450 (£41 to £231) return.
First destinations are rumored to be Stansted or Gatwick in the UK and Hangzhou, Tianjin in China.
September 28, 2007 18:39 PM
AirAsia X Flying To Australia's Gold Coast From Nov 2
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- AirAsia X, an affiliate of low-cost carrier AirAsia, will fly long haul to Australia's Gold Coast beginning Nov 2, 2007.
Gold Coast will the airline's first long-haul international destination, it said in a statement here today.
AirAsia X will begin with four direct return flights per week, with fares from as a low as RM50 from the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Kuala Lumpur and A$99 from the Gold Coast Airport.
The promotion fares will available for 48 hours from midnight Sept 29 to 30 for travel period from Nov 2 to 14 this year, the airline said.
The inaugural flight will carry a total of 315 guests, consisting of 279 economy seats and 36 premium XL seats, serviced by the airline's Airbus A330-300 aircraft which arrived earlier this month in LCCT.
"We are keen to position Gold Cost as the gateway to Australia as the airport also offers strong domestic connections for low-cost travel to Sydney and Melbourne," AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said.
"We believe Gold Coast is the start of AirAsia X's exciting journey to building a strong long haul network," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Specific link not possible:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
mdechgan
29-09-07, 03:16 AM
Flying an hour or two on air asia 737s with no frills is one thing.
But 10+hours to Sydney with no food, drink, movie and in a substandard seats? Paying 100 baht for a can of coke and a cup of mama should be criminal. How much for a sandwich? 200 baht? Well they didn't have any last time I flew with them. But I did have to pay 40 baht for a bag of peanuts. Oh don't forget about the seating, people were pushing and rushing just to get on the plane to get their seats. Imagine having to fight with 300 other passengers for a seat.
A330 is a nice plane but to Sydney I would rather fly on Thai's 747s which can make the flight in 9 hours. With much better service. But costly though.
Flying used to be elegant, pretty soon we will see air asia purchasing a380s for no frills service to Los Angeles. Oh imagine the agony.
jpatokal
30-09-07, 01:34 AM
Flying an hour or two on air asia 737s with no frills is one thing. But 10+hours to Sydney with no food, drink, movie and in a substandard seats? Paying 100 baht for a can of coke and a cup of mama should be criminal.
Well, don't fly Air Asia then. Qantas or Thai would be delighted to sell you the same flight, complete with a "free" inflight meal, if you pay 10,000 baht more for your ticket.
Oh don't forget about the seating, people were pushing and rushing just to get on the plane to get their seats. Imagine having to fight with 300 other passengers for a seat.
Psst -- they don't sell more tickets than there are seats, so why rush?
mdechgan
30-09-07, 02:09 AM
Psst -- they don't sell more tickets than there are seats, so why rush?
That's what I thought.
The plane isn't going to leave any faster. But tell that to the other 299 people. Heck people rush to the gate even when their seats are already assign by other airlines. It must be for the hand baggage.
I flew to Xiamen last time I flew on air asia and those Chinese are just animals when it comes to getting inline in an orderly fashion.
Yes you get what you pay for but it makes you think twice if you really want to save a few bucks for the cheaper experience.
AirAsia offers to operate Subang airport on its own
BERNAMA
SEPANG, Thurs:
AirAsia Bhd is keen to operate and develop the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport at Subang via private financing initiative (PFI) and make it more business driven and competitive regionally.
AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said today the company is prepared to table a fresh proposal to the government seeking its permission to operate the airport.
..........
Rest of this article:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=18336#post18336
Looks like a put-down to me. I have noted that those with high-rank in Malaysia are often dab hands at these kind of snide reminders of one's lower status. Not too surprisingly, the other place I have noted this phenomenon is amongst the washed-up flotsam of the British aristocracy. Doubtless, learned behaviour from the past! But in a world where it doesn't pay to take a puff at those who still have some access to money and power, it is so much more convenient to take out your age-old pent-up frustrations on deliberately disenfranchised minorities and low-ranking expats:
November 26, 2007 22:31 PM
MAS Invites AirAsia To Serve Unprofitable Routes
PETALING JAYA, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) believes that AirAsia can serve its previously unprofitable routes instead of both airlines competing on the same routes.
"If they can make it work, that's good," MAS managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said after announcing the airline's results for its third quarter ended Sept 30, 2007, here today.
"I think the way we can work together is where we could not make money (such as) flying to Manchester, then I think AirAsia can fly to Manchester," he said.
According to Jala, another route that AirAsia should consider is Cairo.
"There is scope for collaboration. There is always scope for competition," he said.
"So let's work together. Those areas that we have agreed to work, we can work together, but then we also agree on the areas where we compete."
With regard to AirAsia Bhd, Jala said the two airlines could do things together from training to repairing aircraft.
"In fact, AirAsia X A330 aircraft was down and they sent it (to us) just a few weeks ago and we repaired it for them. And they sent a complimentary letter to say thank you very much, it was a great job. And they paid us and it was good," he said.
"(If) they didn't send it to us, they will send it to Singapore."
Jala said that there was nothing personal in the competition between MAS and AirAsia.
"This is all about business. I do believe that is the way it should be," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
Other evidence that MAS hobnobs may harbor some grudge against AirAsia:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2896
Business
December 05, 2007 16:44 PM
AirAsia Set To Be World's Largest A320 Operator
LANGKAWI, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The largest low cost carrier in Southeast Asia, AirAsia Bhd, Wednesday ordered an additional 25 Airbus A320 aircraft, with an option for a further 25, at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) 2007 exhibition.
The order will place the group - Malaysia AirAsia, Thai AirAsia & Indonesia AirAsia - as the largest A320 operator in the world, with 175 firm orders and 50 purchase options, group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said.
"This purchase is an important step for AirAsia as it signifies our future aggressive route expansion plans in tandem with our expected traffic growth over the next decades," he said.
"The addition of the aircraft will be used to add frequency across the route network, introduce new routes and gradually replace the current fleet of Boeing 737 in Thailand and Indonesia."
He and Airbus chief operating officer (customers) John Leahy signed the contract witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.
Fernandes said the delivery under the new order will be after 2013.
AirAsia placed its original order for 60 A320s in March 2005, with re-orders for an additional 40 aircraft in July 2006 and for another 50 aircraft in January this year.
The first Airbus was delivered to AirAsia in December 2005 and currently it operates 31 A320s for both domestic and regional markets.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
December 10, 2007 11:48 AM
Air Asia X Starts Carrying Bangladeshi Workers To Malaysia
DHAKA, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- The Air Asia X, one of the designated airlines from Malaysia has started operation recently on charter basis to carry workers for employment in Malaysia, the Bangladesh news agency BSS reported Sunday.
The Airline has arranged for more flights for quick transportation of the workers, who have been waiting for long due to lack of flight schedule, a press release said.
"The main objective of bringing the airlines to Bangladesh is to quick transportation of Bangladeshi workers to Kuala Lumpur who have been stranded here due to lack of flight schedule," said Noman Chowdhury, chairman Celebrity Tours and Travels.
The charter flights have been arranged by Celebrity Tours and Travels the local agent of the company.
According to the local agent, weekly five chartered flights would be operated on the route on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The Air Asia X, is a sister concern of Malaysia's prominent airline Air Asia. The new airlines have started operating flights first between Malaysia and Australia.
Bangladesh are the second destination of the company.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
I believe Jetstar has also been allocated some slots on this route:
January 10, 2008 16:12 PM
AirAsia To Start KL-Singapore Flights Feb 1
From Mahanum Abdul Aziz
SINGAPORE, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Low cost carrier AirAsia Bhd is set to commence its inaugural flight to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur with two daily flights beginning February 1 this year.
Its group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said the airline will offer fares starting from RM29.90 to RM150 for one way travel to Singapore from KLIA's LCCT.
To celebrate the opening up of this route to AirAsia, Fernandes said AirAsia will be giving away 30,000 free seats to its guests.
The free seats will be made available from today at 12pm to January 13 for travel period from Feb 1 to Oct 25 this year, he said at a press conference to announce the inaugural flight dates for the route here today.
Fernandes said AirAsia expects to carry out about 500,000 passengers for the KL-Singapore route within six months.
He was also confident that the number will grow to five to seven million in five years after the Asean Open Sky Policy comes into effect in January 2009.
"The projection is based on huge demand for this route which is still under-served. It's a huge market," he said.
The airline is looking at 20 flights a day to Singapore once the policy takes effect, he added.
Last year, the Malaysian government gave approval to AirAsia and Tiger Airways to start flights between KL and Singapore this year. The route is now dominated by Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
On whether AirAsia will offer the Singapore route from other points in Malaysia, Fernandes said he hoped the route will be opened up to other points like from Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu in the future.
Todate, AirAsia has carried over 40 million passengers and has grown from a two-aircraft fleet to 65 and today has the most extensive low-cost network in the region with over 86 routes - all within a short span of six years in operation.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
jpatokal
11-01-08, 01:56 PM
Air Asia has 2 flights a day, while the Sg government allocated 1x to Tiger and 1x to JetStar. Exact schedules:
TR 148 SIN-KUL 1050hs- 1145hs
AK 124 SIN- KUL 1130hs-1225hs
3K 687 SIN- KUL 1500hs- 1555hs
AK 128 SIN- KUL 2140hs-2240hs
AK 123 KUL-SIN 1000hs-1055hs
TR 149 KUL-SIN 1215hs- 1310hs
3K 688 KUL-SIN 1635hs- 1730hs
AK 127 KUL-SIN 1950hs-2050hs
January 14, 2008 18:27 PM
AirAsia Academy To Produce 5,000 Pilots Yearly
SEPANG, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- AirAsia Bhd, following the RM40 million expansion plan for the second phase of its academy, is expected to produce up to 5,000 pilots yearly from the current 400 pilots.
"The academy is our best moment because this is for the future," said AirAsia Bhd's group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes.
"It also shows Malaysia's capability as we train pilots from all over the world," he told reporters after signing a partnership agreement with CAE.
CAE is a provider of simulation and modelling technologies, and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defence forces.
The second phase of the academy, which is expected to be completed in June this year, will see additional classrooms, multi-purpose halls, a swimming pool and other facilities.
"Our investment so far in terms of facilities is about RM200 million," said Fernandes, who added that the academy had already trained pilots from the Middle East, India, China, the Philippines and Singapore.
The signing was witnessed by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and Canada's High Commissioner to Malaysia, David Summers.
On the sales for AirAsia from the new Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route, Fernandes said: "The value is close to a million ringgit but obviously we have a lot of free seats, so the value will be much lower."
"We have done about 10,000 seats already. It was one of the fastest launches as the route received huge demand," he said.
"I am very happy with the response. The business is very strong. This is supposed to be our slowest month but the route has been very encouraging."
AirAsia, which will start its Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route from Feb 1, 2008, is expected to carry seven million passengers over the next five years.
On whether AsiaAsia's operations will affect the high-speed train proposal, Chan said two different modes of transport were involved.
"I don't think they will affect each other. They will complement each other," he said, adding the government was still discussing the project.
Meanwhile, CAE announced that it has selected Kuala Lumpur for its Southeast Asian training hub.
The company, based in Canada, said it would leverage on its existing partnership with AirAsia to develop an aviation centre of excellence and expand within the region.
Fernandes said the low-budget airline was looking to further enhancing its partnership with CAE by working together to develop the training hub, adding that this would reinforce AirAsia's leadership in the aviation industry across Southeast Asia.
CAE will deliver world-class aviation training to pilots, maintenance technicians and cabin crew for airlines across Southeast Asia, and Kuala Lumpur will be its regional hub for the Multi-Crew Pilot Licence and Airbus Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) training.
CAE's group president of innovation and civil training and services, Jeff Roberts, said Southeast Asia was currently facing a shortage of pilots, adding that more than 1,000 pilots were needed annually in the region over the next 20 years.
"Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing markets for aviation in the world," he said.
"With a huge delivery of aircraft expected over the next few years, the region needs to establish the infrastructure, support and standards to ensure the quality pilot and maintenance training."
Roberts said developing the aviation hub with AirAsia would not only enable CAE to address the shortage of pilots in the region, but also provide Asian customers the convenience of completing their training close to home.
He said CAE was committed to add another Airbus A320 simulator and an Airbus A330 simulator by end of this year or first quarter of 2009.
Currently, the academy is equipped with three simulators -- two CAE-built Airbus A320s belonging to AirAsia and a Boeing 737-300 owned by CAE.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
January 14, 2008 20:41 PM
No Plans To Take AirAsia Private, Says Fernandes
SEPANG, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- AirAsia Bhd has no plans to be privatised, its group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said today.
"No plans at the moment in terms of taking AirAsia private. It's not something that I am aware of," he told reporters after signing a partnership agreement with CAE.
"I do think that the stock market needs to understand AirAsia better," he said when asked about the company's share price which has plunged more than 20 percent since October 2007.
"We have an amazing airline with amazing products," he added.
The low-cost carrier has seen significant selling of its shares by foreign shareholders. The fall was "related to AirAsia's fuel-hedging policy, which some parties considered excessively speculative", said OSK Research last week.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
AirAsia's budget hotels in Malaysia:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2425
Thai AirAsia:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=2642
Thai AirAsia budget hotel plan:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=19669#post19669
AirAsia X to fly to London by year-end
By Eugene Mahalingam
The Star
Publication Date: 21-03-2008
AirAsia X, the long-haul low-cost carrier and sister company of AirAsia, is targeting flights to London by year-end.
Chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said it hoped to have flights to London in time for Christmas. The time frame was to accommodate delivery of a long-haul aircraft that it hoped to secure within six months.
“We need to get a plane that is capable of accommodating direct flights. Right now, we do not have the plane but over the next six months, we hope to get at least one, if not two,” he said prior to the unveiling of AirAsia’s AT&T Williams Formula One A320 aircraft yesterday.
“If we use our existing fleet, we would need to stop in between. That would not bode well when competing against the more aggressive Middle Eastern airlines.”
AirAsia X, which covers flights that are longer than four hours, began flying passengers last November. Its first destination was Australia’s Gold Coast, which had already registered over 100,000 bookings to date, according to Azran.
He also said having flights to London would be a significant boost to the group.
“It is going to be huge. For our flights to the Gold Coast for instance, travellers from Britain were the third highest number of passengers after Malaysians and Australians,” he said.
“This means that (British) travellers are actually coming to Malaysia to fly to Australia. Today, people travelling to and from Britain and Australia are paying a fortune for tickets and we can offer similar trips at a fraction of the cost,” Azran added.
Meanwhile, AirAsia is now flying an A320 aircraft bearing the colours of the AT&T Williams Formula One racing car.
The unveiling of the aircraft yesterday (Mar 20) was held to coincide with the 10th edition of the F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix this Sunday.
The unveiling also marks the group’s extended three-year partnership with the AT&T Williams Formula One team. Drivers Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima were present at the event.
http://www.asianewsnet.net/biz.php?aid=15849
Sunday May 11, 2008
To London and back - for RM1,200
By WONG SAI WAN
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X will start its flights to London in March next year. And it will cost only about RM1,200 for a return trip on an economy ticket.
The country’s first long-haul budget carrier had announced last year that the Kuala Lumpur-London route would be its mainstay but could not take off because there was no suitable aircraft.
AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said he had signed up for the lease of an Airbus A340 aircraft a few days ago.
“We will take delivery of the plane in January and it will take us several months to refurbish it.
“It will be configured to house 50 flatbeds (sleeper seats) and the rest would be economy seats but will be bigger and more comfortable than even that of a full service carrier,” Fernandes said in an interview from London.
He estimated that the average cost of a return fare to London would be about RM1,200 while the higher-class flatbed seats would cost about RM8,000 return.
The economy return fare on full service carriers like Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines is between RM4,000 and RM4,500 while a business-class ticket on these airlines costs more than RM20,000.
Fernandes said his airline was still negotiating with a couple of airports near the Greater London area but “chances are we will settle for London's Standsted Airport.'' [Mod: ;-) Stansted!]
The airport is located in the Uttlesford district of the English county of Essex, about 48km northeast of London. Stansted is a hub for a number of major European low-cost airlines. It is Britain’s third largest airport serving the London area after Heathrow and Gatwick.
Fernandes said AirAsia X would start with five flights a week using the first aircraft but “we will build it up to eventually two flights on a daily basis.”
“Our on-board entertainment system will be a state-of-the-art touch screen unit. You can watch movies, listen to music and even order your food from the unit,” he added.
On the permanent aircraft for the long-haul routes, he said AirAsia X was still looking at the Airbus A350 or the Boeing 787 (commonly called the Dreamliner).
“We have not decided on which wide-body aircraft but we want one that can give us the flexibility to serve Europe and the Americas. We want to turn Kuala Lumpur into a truly low-cost hub,” the AirAsia founder said.
AirAsia X operates long-haul flights that take six hours or more. It now operates flights to two destinations – Gold Coast in Australia and Hangzhou in China. The airline had announced that it would be flying to Tiruchirapalli in India in a couple of months.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/11/nation/21213476&sec=nation
Airasia X's London Stansted-KL Service Takes Off On Mar 11, 2009
By Muin Abdul Majid
LONDON, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's long-haul budget carrier, AirAsia X, today announced that its London Stansted-Kuala Lumpur service will take off on March 11, 2009, with fares starting from as low as 99 pounds(RM499) each way.
AirAsia Group chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, said AirAsia X's London-KL route was the realisation of a long-held ambition to open up affordable access between Malaysia and Europe for both Asean and European communities.
For the sector AirAsia X will use Airbus A340 for the five times weekly direct flights.
Fernandes said bookings would start at midday London time today until Nov 30 for the travel period of March 11, 2009 to Oct 24, 2009.
London would be AirAsia-X's fifth international destination after Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne in Australia as well as Hangzhou in China, Fernandes told a news conference in conjunction with the sales launch of the new service at the London County here.
Also present at the event were AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani and chairman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan, as well as Malaysian High Commissioner to UK Datuk Abd Aziz Mohammed and representative from Stansted Airport.
Besides the 99 pounds fare for the economy seats, Fernandes said passengers also had the option to pay 549 pounds (RM1,999) for the XL seats respectively.
When asked on the timing of the launch now with the world facing an economic recession, he said the country needed some positive action and that entrepreneurs and corporations should do their bit in dealing with the situation.
"I am not going to sit there and cut everything and just say we are going to die. We are going to fight and find our way out of this recession," he said, adding that this was the time to "give back to the country."
"I could cut and make a bit more money but this has to be about being stronger after the recession."
Asked on what was next for the airline, Fernandes said he was aiming for daily service to London and possibly two flights a day.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=374366
November 27, 2008 23:50 PM
AirAsia X Weighing Options For Europe
From Muin Abdul Majid
LONDON, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X is weighing its options for Europe following the London Stansted-Kuala Lumpur (KL) service which is set to take off on March 11, 2009.
"The big question is whether we put all our efforts into London and this becomes the hub for Europe, and from there (London) people can go off to France, Germany or other destinations, or whether we eventually have one place in central Europe, one place in eastern Europe, for example," said AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.
"That's to be debated. (AirAsia X chief executive officer) Azran (Osman-Rani) and his team will look at it," he said at the London-KL route launch, with fares starting from 99 pounds each way.
Fernandes said he personally had mixed feelings about the matter.
"I think sometimes it's good to have a lot of frequency in one place and then farm it out. But it would be nice to say we're going to fly to Rome, Prague and so on. What makes financial sense will drive us," he said.
The airline chief said the next step would be to have daily flights between KL and London, and possibly introducing two flights a day for the sector.
AirAsia X is scheduled to fly five times weekly between the two cities using the Airbus A340 from Air Canada.
Meanwhile, Azran said he would definitely introduce daily flights to London if he could get a second A340 plane.
To a question, he expressed hope that the load factor for the London sector would hover in the 83 to 84 percent range.
"It works for us if it's in the mid-70s in terms of breaking even. Eighty percent is really good, but 84 and beyond is what I'm hoping for," he said.
Azran said Germany was a potential destination for AirAsia X.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=374946
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.