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Tag: airasia

  • AirAsia load factor up 85% in third quarter 2016

    AirAsia load factor up 85% in third quarter 2016

    AirAsia Bhd recorded a load factor of 85% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2016, up two percentage points from the same period last year.

    The carrier said the total number of passengers carried increased 7% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 14.51 million, well ahead of the 5% increase in seat capacity.

    At the end of the quarter under review, the budget airline’s total fleet size stood at 172 aircraft (174 including two aircraft delivered to AirAsia Japan but yet to commence operations).

    For financial year 2016 (FY16), the airline carried a total of 56.59 million passengers for a load factor of 86%.

    AirAsia said in a statement the Malaysian operations achieved a load factor of 87% in Q4, up two percentage points year-on-year.

    It added that demand exceeded the 2% y-o-y increase in capacity, with the number of passengers carried rising by 5% y-o-y to 6.76 million. AirAsia Malaysia ended the quarter with a fleet size of 77 aircraft.

    Thai AirAsia posted a load factor of 82% in Q4, unchanged y-o-y. The number of passengers carried was 4.37 million, an increase of 8% y-o-y, near to the capacity growth of 10% y-o-y.

    “Thai AirAsia took two additional aircraft during the quarter, ending the year with a fleet of 51 aircraft. For FY16, Thai AirAsia carried 17.22 million passengers and posted a load factor of 84%, up three percentage points from FY15,” it said.

    Indonesia AirAsia posted a load factor of 83% in Q4, up three percentage points y-o-y. The number of passengers carried totalled 1.55 million on a reduced capacity of 10% y-o-y, in line with the turnaround strategy.

    For FY16, Indonesia AirAsia carried 6.52 million passengers and averaged a load factor of 84%.

    Philippines AirAsia reported a load factor of 85% while AirAsia India posted a load factor of 86% in Q4.

    Meanwhile, AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) said overall operating performance in Q4 has improved y-o-y, resulting from the successful turnaround initiatives implemented during the year.

    “In Q4, the company recorded high double-digit increase in passengers carried of 40% y-o-y to 1.38 million, in line with capacity growth of 43% y-o-y. The huge capacity injected during the quarter was to cater to higher demand from year-end holiday travel,” it said in a separate statement.

    AAX said passenger load factor dropped two percentage points to 81% against 83% for the same period last year, as available seat per kilometers grew 44% y-o-y to 8,474 million in Q4.

    “Operationally, FY16 has been a success turnaround story, with various phases of turnaround initiative carried out positively during the year.”

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  • AirAsia X flying to London, Frankfurt this summer

    AirAsia X flying to London, Frankfurt this summer

    AirAsia X will return to London this summer with direct flights out of klia2, AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes told media on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week.

    Additionally, Fernandes said that Frankfurt will be added to the list of destinations for the long-haul arm of the Malaysian-based low-cost carrier, but it will be a direct flight out of Bangkok.

    According to German news agency DPA, Fernandes said he hoped to set the airfare below €200 (RM953) for the Bangkok-Frankfurt flight.

    “I would like to offer them for even less. Due to the low oil prices, we could even afford to set the airfare as low as €150 (RM715).

    “We are keen on attracting more Europeans to come to holiday in Southeast Asia as well as to help Asians who wish to explore Europe. We see this as a mutual market,” he was quoted as saying by DPA.

    The airline had suspended all flights to Europe, including London and Paris, in March 2012, due to high operating costs. The Kuala Lumpur and London route was launched by AirAsia X in March 2009.

    AirAsia X currently flies to multiple destinations in China, India and Japan, as well as to a few Australian cities.

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  • AirAsia X gets FAA clearance to fly to the US

    AirAsia X gets FAA clearance to fly to the US

    AirAsia X has received clearance from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to fly to any destination in the the US, making its foray into an entirely new market as it looks beyond the Asia Pacific.

    “The airline is the first Asian low-cost carrier to secure approval to operate scheduled passenger flights to the US,” it said on Tuesday.

    AirAsia X is considering flights to several US states including Hawaii as part of its route expansion plans.

    Its group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said this was a major milestone for AirAsia X.

    “Our expansion up until now has concentrated on Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, and we are excited about our first foray into an entirely new market as we look beyond Asia Pacific.

    “I’m confident travellers will respond well to our award-winning service and the kind of connectivity we can offer with our Fly-Thru product. As part of our expansion plans, we are also looking to resume our very popular London route, and are working towards securing the necessary approvals.”

    Kamarudin said none of this would be possible without its Allstars, especially group chief operating officer Anaz Ahmad Tajuddin, who  passed away two weeks ago.

    “We wouldn’t be where we are today if he chad not laid the foundations with his blood, sweat and tears, and his bravery in the face of cancer showed us the true meaning of strength. This is for you, Anaz.”

    Fly-Thru allows guests to seamlessly connect to anywhere within AirAsia’s wide network with just one stop at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Asia’s No. 1 low-cost carrier hub – and other convenient transit hubs in Thailand and Indonesia, without having to pass through immigration and with their baggage checked through to the final destination.

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  • AirAsia Returns to Europe, Slashes Fares

    AirAsia Returns to Europe, Slashes Fares

    AirAsia, the Malaysian low-cost airline, is returning to Europe this summer when it will add London and Frankfurt to its destinations.

    The airline’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, told German news agency DPA at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he planned to launch two new routes, from Kuala Lumpur to London and Bangkok to Frankfurt.

    Tickets to Frankfurt will cost less than €200 ($214). “Honestly, I would like to offer them for even less. Because of the low oil prices, we could afford about €150,” Mr. Fernandes said. He’s keen to attract Europeans who want to go on holiday in Southeast Asia as well as Asians wanting to explore Europe: “We see this as a mutual market,” he said.

    AirAsia is based near Kuala Lumpur and offered connections to London and Paris in the past but abandoned these in 2012 because planes were too small and energy prices too high.

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  • AirAsia to open Cambodia office

    AirAsia to open Cambodia office

    AirAsia, the Malaysia-based low-cost airline, will soon have an office in Cambodia to boost the number of tourist arrivals to the kingdom.

    The airline’s office will open soon, said AirAsia CEO Anthony Fernandes, after holding a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen in Switzerland on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

    Mr. Hun Sen said AirAsia’s presence would bring more tourists to Cambodia, adding that the airline has helped transport tourists to Cambodia from all over the world.

    Keo Sivorn, director general of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said AirAsia’s decision to open an office in Cambodia was in response to the current demand of passengers and cargo to the kingdom.

    “It will help the company provide additional satisfied service to its passengers,” said Mr. Sivorn.

    “AirAsia has existing flight service operations to Cambodia. It will open an office here soon because it sees the demand of the aviation sector in Cambodia increasing thanks to the country’s high economic growth.”

    The new office is also in response to the number of local airlines operating in the kingdom, Mr. Sivorn said.

    Ho Vandy, secretary-general of Cambodia’s National Tourism Alliance, said AirAsia would bring more people from all corners of the world to Cambodia because of its popularity offering low fares.

    “It’s a reflection of the airline market. It will serve the high demand of passengers and tourists traveling by plane and it will meet the government’s ‘Open Sky’ policy,” he said.

    Two local airlines, which are expected to get off the ground this year, will push the total number of local airlines to six, according to Mr. Sivorn. The four now operating are Cambodia Angkor Air, Bassaka Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Sky Angkor Airlines.

    “By this year, the two airline companies will hopefully start providing service. Due to economic growth and stable politics, the number of airlines is increasing,” he said.

    AirAsia is currently operating 67 flights per week out of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports, according to Mr. Fernandes.

    AirAsia swung to a profit in the third quarter of 2016 from a net loss a year earlier. Net profit for the three months ended September 30 was 353.9 million ringgit ($79.62 million), versus a net loss of 405.7 million ringgit a year earlier. Revenue rose 11.2 percent to 1.69 million ringgit, the company said.

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  • Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia seek rights to India

    Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia seek rights to India

    Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia have applied for rights to serve India. Cebu Pacific has called for the country’s Civil Aeronautics Board to re-allocate Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) entitlements to India.

    Philippines AirAsia, meanwhile, wants to be designated as an official Philippine carrier on services to India. It is seeking to launch daily services on the Manila-Bangkok Don Mueang-New Delhi route.

    PAL launched direct services between Manila and New Delhi in 2010, but stopped after a year of poor performance. It then served New Delhi from Bangkok, but this was also stopped due to poor demand.

    FlightMaps Analytics shows that there are currently no services between Philippines and India.

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  • AirAsia X to start direct KL-Wuhan flights

    AirAsia X to start direct KL-Wuhan flights

    AirAsia X plans to fly four times weekly direct to Wuhan, China, from Kuala Lumpur, effective March 22, 2017, and is offering one-way promotional fares from RM199.

    Chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail said the company is the largest foreign carrier into China and the destination is set to receive 32 weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Phuket.

    AirAsia currently operates daily flights to Wuhan from Kota Kinabalu.

    “China is a segment that continues to record encouraging progressive performance annually and remains the focus of AirAsia X’s network expansion strategy.

    “Wuhan will soon be a virtual hub for the AirAsia and AirAsia X Groups. We are committed to maintaining growth, while developing innovative products and services,” he said in a statement on Monday.

    The group currently operates 409 weekly flights from various Asean cities across 45 routes to 17 destinations in China.

    As of 2015, AirAsia carried over five million people in and out of China, making it the largest foreign carrier in the country

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  • AirAsia India to connect Srinagar, Bagdogra, Pune with Delhi

    AirAsia India to connect Srinagar, Bagdogra, Pune with Delhi

    No-frills carrier AirAsia India today announced the launch of its services to Srinagar and Bagdogra from the national capital, commencing next month.

    The Bengaluru-based airline would also start a direct flight on Delhi-Pune route.

    The launch of two new destinations and one new route is aimed at improving regional connectivity and increasing the airline’s footprint in the country, AirAsia India said in a release.

    The new services will be rolled out from February 19, it said.

    “AirAsia India is consistently growing and is on a rapid business expansion mode. We ended 2016 on a highly positive note and are delighted to continue the same momentum in 2017 with the launch of two new sectors and an additional route,” AirAsia India chief executive officer Amar Abrol said.

    With the launch of these services, AirAsia India would now fly to 13 destinations through its hubs –Bengaluru and New Delhi — covering Chandigarh, Jaipur, Guwahati, Imphal, Goa, Pune, Vizag, Kochi, Hyderabad, Srinagar and Bagdogra.

    The airline also announced special fares from as low as Rs 1,999 for the New Delhi-Srinagar flights and Rs 2,499 and Rs 2999 for Bagdogra and Pune flights from New Delhi.

    AirAsia as a group strongly believes in enhancing connectivity and making air travel affordable for all, Abrol said, adding Bagdogra and Srinagar are key sectors for the airline’s further growth in the domestic market.

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  • AirAsia X enhances entertainment for Aussies

    AirAsia X enhances entertainment for Aussies

    Malaysian carrier AirAsia X has upgraded its in-flight entertainment option for Australian passengers.

    The new Xcite Inflight Entertainment tablet is a Huawei Mediapad 2, equipped with a 10.1″ HD widescreen display, Harman Kardon audio technology and headset.

    Guests travelling aboard AirAsia X (flight code D7) services to and from Australia can pre-book these devices for about $AU15 (RM49) or rent them on-board for about $18 (RM60).

    The new tablets support five languages (English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese) and the service is complimentary for all Premium Flatbed customers.

    AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail says device content will be regularly updated with the latest Hollywood blockbusters, as well as other international and local movies.

    Currently Xcite is showing X-Men: Apocalypse, The Maze Runner, 21 Days Under the Sky, Storks, The Drop and more. However, no television shows or series are available on the devices at this point.

    There’s also plenty of music, games and magazines to read, plus passengers can shop while they fly, as the AirAsia BIG Duty Free catalogue is also included.

    Previously, the airline offered Samsung Galaxy Tab devices for rental on all its Australian flights.

    AirAsia X flies out of Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Darwin and Perth.

    Xcite Inflight Entertainment will not be available on flights to/from Auckland, Jeddah and Kathmandu.

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  • AirAsia launches Early Bird Sale with tickets starting at Rs 99

    AirAsia launches Early Bird Sale with tickets starting at Rs 99

    AirAsia has launched an Early Bird sale with the base fare of tickets to select domestic routes starting at Rs 99. International flights to select destinations start at a base fare of Rs 999.

    The sale, now underway, will go on till January 22, 2017, and you can book tickets for travel time between May 1 2017 and February 6, 2018.

    The sale will be applicable on direct flights from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, Goa and Kochi.

    While on international routes, the sale will be applicable on flights from Kochi, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Tiruchirappalli to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

    AirAsia said airport taxes and other charges will be extra.

  • AirAsia increasing flights for Chinese New Year

    AirAsia increasing flights for Chinese New Year

    AirAsia is increasing its flights for the Chinese New Year (CNY) period, offering 84 additional domestic and international trips. In a statement here yesterday, its Head of Commercial, Spencer Lee, said CNY has always been one of the busiest periods for the company as guests would travel back home or go for a short getaway during the long weekend.

    “As part of the airline’s festive promotions to welcome the Year of the Rooster, we have launched ‘#AyamComing’ campaign, offering all-in-fares from as low as RM29 (one-way), festive inflight meals and online pre-booking discounts at its duty-free shop,” he said.

    He said the special low fares would be available for booking starting from today until Jan 22, for travel up to July 31, 2017.

    “Aside from adding more flights to meet the demands, we want our guests to enjoy the exceptional connectivity of our flights,” he said.

    Lee said AirAsia X, the company’s long-haul affiliate, introduced 12 new routes last year, nine of which were exclusively operated by AirAsia and AirAsia X.

    As part of the promotion, Big Duty Free, AirAsia’s online duty-free shop, is offering 38 per cent discounts on all items from now until Feb 12, he said.

    “Guests can also spend and earn eight times AirAsia BIG points (loyalty programme) when they shop online,” he said.

  • AirAsia is hosting its first hackthon

    Budget airline AirAsia is the latest corporate to get into hackathons. The company just revealed plans to host its first-ever hack event on March 18 at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    “AIRVOLUTION 2017” — yes, all caps and a cheesy name ? — is, as you’d expect, focused on air travel and related themes although the final challenge will be announced on the day of the event. The top prize RM 25,000 (around $5,600) in cash alongside five sets of return flights to any AirAsia destination, and 100,000 of the company’s “Big” loyalty points.

    There’s space for 20 selected teams to compete, with the only stipulation being that they must be from one of the 26 countries covered by AirAsia flights. Applications are open from now until 19 February 2017. Selected teams will be notified 3 March and those based outside of Malaysia will have their flights covered by AirAsia.

    The event, which includes Microsoft among its sponsors, is aimed at injecting fresh ideas and thinking into the 13-year-old airline, according to CEO Tony Fernandes, who last year said he wanted to make AirAsia a “digital airline.”

    “This year marks the emergence of AirAsia as a digital airline, and I believe this event can spur the kind of radical, creative thinking that will ensure AirAsia remains on the leading edge,” he said in a statement.

    AirAsia is by no means the first travel company, or even airline, to embrace hackathons. Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines all run events, while British Airways has gone one step further with its own in-flight hackathon in 2013.

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  • AirAsia’s group COO dies

    AirAsia’s group COO dies

    AirAsia has confirmed that its Group Chief Operating Officer, Anaz Ahmad Tajuddin, 43,  passed away at 5.50am today after battling cancer.

    In a statement, the budget airline said he would be buried at the Tanah Perkuburan Raudhah, Kota Seriemas, Negri Sembilan, after after Friday prayers at the Masjid Kuarters KLIA.

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  • AirAsia to list in Hong Kong

    AirAsia to list in Hong Kong

    AirAsia Group is looking at a secondary listing of the airline, AirAsia Bhd, on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE) and hopes that it can take place before the middle of this year.

    Towards this end, it is believed that China Merchants Bank, an investment bank from China, is likely to get the job to advise and make the relevant submissions for the dual listing.

    Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, when contacted, confirmed that there are plans to seek a listing on the HKSE.

    “The plan is to list a portion of AirAsia Bhd shares in our Hong Kong-listed vehicle. This provides us access to new capital if required.

    “We have a large pool of investors in North Asia, while China is a large part of our market. So, we decided on a dual listing in Hong Kong.

    “I am hoping the listing will be in April or May this year … It would be a great day if it can get listed on April 30, as it is also my birthday,” he said.

    Fernandes said that AirAsia was working towards listing a holding company for all its airline operations that span the region.

    “However, Hong Kong (exchange) will presently not be the vehicle used for this purpose,” he said. “I have spent the week meeting the various leaders of Asean and the overall response has been positive (towards setting a holding company).”

    Apart from a dual listing in Hong Kong, AirAsia’s other units, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines, are slated to be listed this year. Thai AirAsia is already listed on the Thailand Stock Exchange.

    “I am confident these units in the Philippines and Indonesia will be listed this year,” Fernandes said.

    The listing in Hong Kong is designed to give AirAsia more depth and flexibility in raising capital if required, while at the same time allowing investors an option to benefit from being invested in the vibrant Hong Kong exchange. It also allows investors to arbitrage their investments.

    “The exact form is not decided yet, as it has to go to the board. But the bankers have been appointed, they will present the details to the board soon and then we will make the announcement,” Fernandes said.

    Dual listings are preferred for companies with cross-border businesses and AirAsia has operations in several countries in Asia, including Japan and India.

    How much AirAsia will fetch in valuations for the dual listing is not clear, but locally, its stock closed 13 sen higher to RM2.51 a share, giving it a market capitalisation of RM6.99bil.

    Last year, the world’s largest glove maker, Top Glove Corp Bhd, made its debut on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd (SGX-ST) with a secondary listing, but it did not involve any issuance of new shares.

    Its rationale was to create liquidity and trading activity, enhance investor reach and diversify its investor base, and enable the company to tap into a new platform for potential future fund-raising.

    Others on the SGX-ST include IHH Healthcare Bhd and Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd, while Media Chinese International Ltd is listed in Hong Kong.

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  • Travel with AirAsia for Rs 99

    Travel with AirAsia for Rs 99

    Budget carrier AirAsia India on Saturday announced special low fares one way to select destinations across its network in the country.

    “Starting at Rs 99 one-way, the special fares can be booked between January 16 and January 22 for travelling from May 1 to February 6, 2018,” said the airline in a statement.

    The airline operates services to 11 destinations — Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, Kochi, New Delhi, Pune and Vizag, with Bengaluru and New Delhi as its hubs.

    It has a fleet of eight Airbus A320 aircraft.

    The carrier’s parent company AirAsia is also offering promotional fares to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Bangkok in Thailand from India on its Southeast Asia network, with one-way tickets priced at Rs 999.

    “The travel period for overseas destinations is from January 16 to July 31, and tickets can be booked between January 16 and January 22,” said the statement.

    The three-year-old low-cost airline is a joint venture between Tata Sons Ltd and AirAsia Berhad, with each holding 49 per cent equity stake, while its Chairman S Ramadorai and Director R Venkataraman hold 0.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent shareholding respectively.

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