KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN long-haul budget airline AirAsia X said on Wednesday it would launch flights to Melbourne in November, stepping up its regional expansion despite high jet fuel costs.
It will mark the fourth international route for AirAsia X since it began operations in November 2007. The carrier currently flies to Australia's Gold Coast and Perth as well as Hangzhou in China.
AirAsia X said it will begin direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport on Nov. 12.
'We estimate that more than 60 percent of AirAsia X passengers to Melbourne will be first time visitors...allowing AirAsia X the opportunity to open up new market segments from Malaysia with its low fares,' said Chief Executive Azran Osman-Rani.
The airline will mount four round-trip flights a week, which will be increased to daily return flights during the peak holiday season from December to mid-January, it said.
Promotional fares will be offered for bookings made Aug. 21-24 for travel between Nov. 12 and April 30. One-way ticket to Melbourne will cost as low as 99 ringgit (S$42.30) and from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur at 199 Australian dollars (S$241), it said.
'The daily peak season service during Christmas would offer Malaysian and Australian travelers attractive low fares at a time when other airlines typically gouge passengers with super high airfares because demand outstrips capacity,' Mr Azran said.
The route will be serviced by the airline's first brand new wide-bodied Airbus A330 aircraft, giving passengers an improved level of service including in-flight entertainment, it added.
AirAsia X has ordered 25 wide-bodied A330s as part of its fleet expansion. It has plans to fly from Kuala Lumpur to London later this year as well as expand services to other Asian destinations including India and Japan.
AirAsia is 48 per cent owned by parent Aero Ventures Sdn. Bhd.
Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group and AirAsia, the region's top low-cost carrier, hold 16 per cent stake each in the carrier.
Japan's Orix Group and Bahrain-based Manara Consortium each own a 10 per cent equity. -- AP
