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Tag: airline

  • Bamboo Airways names new senior advisor amid restructuring

    Bamboo Airways names new senior advisor amid restructuring

    Sacombank Chairman Duong Cong Minh was appointed senior advisor to the board of directors at Bamboo Airways to support the airline’s restructuring.

    Minh, 62, is also the founder and chairman of property developer Him Lam. His appointment came three days after the airline named a new chairman.

    Minh will be key to the restructuring of Bamboo Airways’ management and expansion, Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Trong said.

    Sacombank was one of the top lenders to Bamboo Airways and its parent company, FLC Group. Hundreds of millions of airline shares were used as collateral for loans at the bank under the reign of ex-chairman Trinh Van Quyet, who was arrested for allegedly manipulating the stock market.

    As of June 30, the group and its subsidiaries had finished paying off their VND1.8 trillion ($76.9 million) debt to Sacombank, according to FLC’s financial statements.

    Bamboo Airways currently operates nearly 170 flights a day on 40 domestic and 12 international routes.

    The carrier plans to continue launching new international services to tourism markets in Asia, Europe and Australia.

    It also plans to increase its fleet to 35 by the end of this year and triple its fleet size to 100 aircraft by 2028.

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  • AirAsia and Malaysia Airports Resolve Their Legal Disputes

    AirAsia and Malaysia Airports Resolve Their Legal Disputes

    In an attempt to revive air travel in the country, AirAsia and Malaysia Airports Holdings have decided to end all of their legal disputes. The two parties released a joint statement a few days ago saying that they have found “common ground to reach an amicable outcome” for their multiple disputes and plan to work together for the recovery of the industry.

    On August 10th, Capital A Berhad (the holding company of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited) and Malaysia Airports Holdings announced that they have mutually agreed to end all of their legal disputes for the sake of the country’s travel and tourism industry.

    Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Managing Director, Dato’ Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said,

    “We are pleased to confirm that all parties are dropping proceedings. There are no longer any legal proceedings or material litigation from MAHB against AirAsia Berhad/AirAsia X Berhad.”

    Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes was also happy with the decision and added,

    “As the world recovers from the pandemic, and substantial losses in the aviation sector in particular, it is integral that all stakeholders work together to stimulate the air travel revival. As two major players driving the aviation ecosystem, it is more important than ever that MAHB and our Malaysian based airlines AirAsia Berhad and AirAsia X Berhad, show solidarity in making Malaysia’s aviation industry competitive and attractive again.”

    The parties involved are believed to have put their differences aside for the benefit and success of all the aviation stakeholders, such as airlines, airports, and passengers, and to stimulate Malaysia’s tourism and economic growth.

    According to ch-aviation, one of the lawsuits was filed by the airport group for outstanding Passenger Service Charge payments amounting to MYR41.55 million ringgit (USD9.1 million) against AirAsia and AirAsia X.

    But the airline group contested that the airport operator had revised the fees in 2016, breaching a contract between the two sides.

    Another dispute involved the two LCCs filing a case against Malaysia Airports alleging losses and damages sustained between 2014 and 2018 due to negligence, multiple disruptions, and poor conditions at KLIA2, the second terminal at Kuala Lumpur airport where these airlines operate

    Spending time and resources on court cases is never an easy decision, more so in the wake of the pandemic, which crushed the airline industry in the last two years. But there have been green shoots lately as various stakeholders commit to bringing the industry back to good health.

    Tourism Malaysia is encouraging various programs and events such as the ‘World Top Gourmet Awards 2022’ and other similar initiatives to bring back tourist revenue and strengthen the economy. For that, there must be a cordial relationship between the country’s major airline group and airports.

    With the disputes ending, the hope is that AirAsia’s main hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport will work seamlessly and be more affordable for millions of passengers each year.

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  • Bamboo Airways appoints new chairman to drive international expansion

    Bamboo Airways appoints new chairman to drive international expansion

    Bamboo Airways on Saturday appointed Nguyen Ngoc Trong who has worked for the airline since the early days of establishment as its new chairman.

    Trong, 65, took the new position after his predecessor Dang Tat Thang resigned as chairman and general director.

    Trong served as the first deputy general director of Bamboo Airways from 2018.

    In April this year, he was appointed vice chairman after a series of senior leaders were arrested for allegedly manipulating the stock market.

    He has more than 40 years of working experience in the aviation industry and has held many senior management positions at major firms like Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company, Vietnam Air Petrol Company Limited and Noi Bai Airport Services JSC.

    Bamboo Airways currently operates nearly 170 flights a day on 40 domestic and 12 international routes.

    The carrier plans to continue launching new international services to tourism markets in Asia, Europe and Australia.

    It also plans to increase its fleet to 35 by the end of this year and triple its fleet size to 100 aircraft by 2028.

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  • Cebu Pacific retimes, cancels 31 flights Tuesday

    Cebu Pacific retimes, cancels 31 flights Tuesday

    Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) on Tuesday announced the retiming and cancellation of 31 flights, saying these are the affected flights during the memorial rites for former President Fidel Ramos.

    Spokesperson Carmina Romero said a notice to airmen (NOTAM) restricting the movement from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. was issued for a planned showering of petals.

    An advisory posted on its Facebook page showed the carrier has canceled 28 domestic flights, and has retimed three international flights because of the activity.

    “We cannot reschedule all (the flights). We can only consolidate so much,” Romero told the Philippine News Agency as to why CEB had to cancel flights instead of retiming them like these three:

    • 5J273 Hong Kong – Manila New ETD 11:15 a.m. /New ETA 1:25 p.m.
    • 5J188 Manila – Seoul (Incheon) New ETD 3:40 p.m. / New ETA 6:50 p.m. KST
    • 5J189 Seoul (Incheon) – Manila New ETD 9:05 p.m. KST / New ETA 12:05 a.m.

    The 28 canceled flights are:

    • DG6041/6042 Manila – Coron – Manila
    • 5J659/660 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
    • 5J851/852 Manila – Zamboanga – Manila
    • 5J641/642 Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila
    • 5J483/484 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
    • 5J963/964 Manila – Davao – Manila
    • 5J453/454 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
    • 5J553/554 Manila – Cebu – Manila
    • 5J911/912 and 5J919/920 Manila – Boracay – Manila
    • 5J643/644 Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila
    • 5J621/622 Manila – Bohol – Manila
    • 5J327/328 Manila – Legazpi – Manila
    • DG6029/6030 Manila – San Jose – Manila

    “As the situation remains fluid, other flight schedules may also be affected,” the advisory read.

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  • AirAsia rolls out welcome back campaign

    AirAsia rolls out welcome back campaign

    AirAsia Thailand unveils its latest advertising campaign, “Missing Moment”, building on its “Unseen Caring” concept, which became particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    AirAsia Thailand head of commercial Tansita Akrarittipirom remarked: “The new campaign is based on the fact that during the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone experienced “missing moments” especially being away from their friends and loved ones, and the places and destinations that give meaning to their lives.

    “We have received a positive response since returning to domestic and international service, with many guests telling us about how they missed sitting in the cabin and setting off on a journey. They even miss our cabin crew asking them to turn off their mobile devices and fasten their seat belts. This inspired us to create this campaign. We want to tell our guests that we are also delighted to be able to serve and glad to welcome them onboard once again,” Tansita added.

    AirAsia Thailand is rebuilding its extensive network to offer the best connectivity, both domestic and internationally, to 11 countries spanning Asean, India, Maldives and Hong Kong for a total of 22 destinations and more than 24 routes.

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  • Vietnam Airlines cuts losses by nearly half

    Vietnam Airlines cuts losses by nearly half

    Vietnam Airlines managed to cut its losses by 44 percent year-on-year in the second quarter to VND2.48 trillion ($106.25 million), thanks to soaring summer travel demand.

    Its revenues nearly tripled to VND18.43 trillion, exceeding its target by 35 percent.

    This was the highest quarterly revenue since 2020 when travel was yet to be affected by Covid-19. But the high fuel prices remain a sore point for the carrier.

    At the end of June, JetA1 fuel was above US$160 per barrel, double the average price last year.

    International travel demand has not fully picked up, especially in Northeast Asian countries, which were a major source of tourists for Vietnam pre-pandemic.

    The airline also saw sales expenses double to VND660 billion.

    First half losses were down 39 percent to VND5.1 trillion.

    Its accumulated losses have climbed to VND28.9 trillion. The airline expects the summer travel season to last until the end of August and the relaxed entry restrictions in other countries to help boost its revenues.

    Vietnam Airlines and its low-cost subsidiaries Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company together transported nearly 9.5 million passengers in the first six months, 24.6 percent higher than targeted.

    Vietnam Airlines accounted for eight million.

  • Bamboo Airways appoints new general director after predecessor quits

    Bamboo Airways appoints new general director after predecessor quits

    Bamboo Airways appointed new general director Friday night after Dang Tat Thang, who helped set up the airline in the early days, resigned as its chairman and general director.

    Nguyen Manh Quan took the new position after having served as the carrier’s deputy general director.

    Quan joined Bamboo Airways in July 2020 and has 30 years of experience in aviation, service, and commerce. He used to work for the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam Airlines, Noi Bai Airport Services Company, and Vinpearl.

    Bamboo Airways said in a statement Friday: “The transition of the general director position is part of the work to consolidate the high-ranking management system to speed up the process of restructuring of and selecting strategic investors for FLC and Bamboo Airways.

    After leaders of property group FLC, the parent company of Bamboo Airways, got into legal trouble earlier this year, the airline has been in the process of looking for new investors to accompany and serve its future development needs.

    Thang said in his resignation letter that for some personal reasons, there were many things that he needs to sort out, therefore he could not arrange to continue his current positions. He also resigned as FLC’s vice chairman.

    Thang, 41, was appointed chairman of FLC and Bamboo Airways after former chairman Trinh Van Quyet was arrested at the end of March for allegedly manipulating the stock market.

    He served as FLC’s vice chairman from early this month after the group elected Le Ba Nguyen as its new chairman for until 2026 at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.

    Thang started working at FLC in 2014 as deputy general director, in charge of investment and project development. He was the leader of Bamboo Airways from the early days of its establishment in 2018.

    Under his management, Bamboo Airways has generated rapid development with a roster of 30 aircraft and became the first private airline in Vietnam to operate wide-body aircraft. After over three years, Bamboo Airways is operating nearly 60 domestic routes and 12 international routes, including routes to the U.K., Germany and Australia.

    In his most recent public appearance in July, Thang said that Bamboo Airways aims to increase its roster to 100 aircraft by 2028.

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  • AirAsia signs partnership with Skyports to explore air taxi feasibility

    AirAsia signs partnership with Skyports to explore air taxi feasibility

    AirAsia has announced that its Advanced Air Mobility division has signed a letter of intent with Skyports Infrastructure to explore the development of air taxi infrastructure in Malaysia. This is a development of a report from last March, where AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said that the company has plans to launch a flying taxi service by 2022.

    AirAsia’s Advanced Air Mobility is a dedicated unit of AirAsia Aviation Group, which is the aviation arm of Capital A. Meanwhile, Skyports is a developer of infrastructure for advanced air mobility (AAM), and the newly established partnership between both companies is seen as an important next step in setting up a fully operation vertiport network in the country.

    Unlike conventional airports used by traditional airline operators, a vertiport is dedicated to aircrafts that land and take off vertically. VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, as they are called, require less room to operate, and AirAsia already announced last year that one of its future plans is to lease 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL (electric powered) from Avolon. The company also has its drone training program which has been extended to high-technology-related sectors.

    The VX4 features a powertrain with 1 MW of output and is said to be 100 times quieter than a helicopter. It’s capable of traveling at speeds of up to 325 km/h (202 mph), has a range of over 161 km (100 miles) and can carry five passengers (including one pilot).

    During the one-year partnership, both parties will focus on joint feasibility studies for the integration of air taxi vertiport infrastructure, the identification of potential vertiport sites, and the development of operational requirements and frameworks to ultimately implement a vertiport network in Malaysia – initial assessments will prioritise Kuala Lumpur.

    “Following the announcement of our venture into the urban air taxi service earlier this year, we have been working around the clock to explore its feasibility in Malaysia. This partnership with Skyports will accelerate the review of the infrastructure including vertical take-off and landing platforms in the country as well as strengthen our potential as a zero-emissions ultra-short-haul air travel provider in Southeast Asia,” said AirAsia Aviation Group chief safety officer and head of AAM Ling Liong Tien.

    “We are excited to be partnering with AirAsia, a powerhouse airline operator that brings great synergy to our work at Skyports. This partnership highlights the steady progress of AAM development and interest in Malaysia and the wider APAC region. With innovative and forward-looking partners like AirAsia, we will be able to take concrete steps towards the realisation of a safe, efficient and fully-integrated air taxi network which brings real benefits to the people and communities it serves,” commented Yun-Yuan Tay, head of Asia Pacific, Skyports.

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  • Airasia Super App achieves record high growth in average monthly active users

    Airasia Super App achieves record high growth in average monthly active users

    Capital A Berhad‘s digital businesses airasia Super App achieved a record high growth in average monthly active users (MAU) which stood at 10.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, up 236 percent compared to the same period last year.

    Capital A said in a statement on Monday the growth is primarily underpinned by the strong return of travel and increased user acquisition on the mobile app.

    Additionally, the number of transactions increased 70 percent for quarter on quarter comparison and climbed five times as compared to the second quarter last year. These were driven primarily by increasing transactions from flights, airasia ride, FlyBeyond, and SUPER+.

    Meanwhile, BigPay reached 1.2 million carded users in the second quarter, a 62 percent increase from the same period last year.

    This was mainly driven by strong market adoption over the past year and throughout this year in line with the travel recovery and the expansion of product offerings, such as DuitNow payments and transfers, additional remittance corridors, and one of the first digital lending products in Malaysia.

    For Capital A’s logistics business, Teleport transported slightly lower cargo tonnage by 27 percent year on year due to the extended lockdowns imposed in China that began in March.

    Delivery, on the other hand, improved significantly, up 630 percent year on year.

    Teleport achieved a record-breaking total of 1.15 million deliveries in the second quarter. This was in part due to Teleport’s onboarding of a large new ecommerce platform in the second quarter which accounted for 10 percent of delivery volume.

    The new platform is expected to boost growth in the industry significantly with Teleport’s robust expansion plans across the region this year.

    Capital A consolidated airlines continues to post significant performance improvement, with a notable load factor of 84 percent, akin to its pre-pandemic levels, signalling that air travel revival is well underway.

    The consolidated airlines carried over 5.6 million passengers, a 633 percent increase year-on-year and 48 percent increase quarter-on-quarter.

    The consolidated airlines flew more than 35,000 flights in the quarter, up 483 percent year on year compared to the same period last year, supported by the growing domestic demand and the resumption of international travel in ASEAN countries.

    Correspondingly, available seat kilometres (ASK) rose by 456 percent year on year and revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) increased by 582 percent year on year.

    In the second quarter, total operating aircraft for AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Philippines were 45, 12 and 8 respectively.

    AirAsia Malaysia posted a stronger load factor of 84 percent in the second quarter, up by 20 percentage points (ppts) year on year and 10 ppts quarter on quarter.

    Passengers carried and capacity increased significantly by 1276 percent year on year and 955 percent year on year to 3.8 million and 4.6 million respectively, with more operating aircraft added to support the huge surge in demand for both domestic and international flights.

    Load factor for international flights achieved 81 percent with 31 additional destinations reinstated and the highest number of international passengers carried post pandemic, attributed mainly from Malaysia-Singapore routes, followed by Malaysia-Indonesia and Malaysia-India routes.

    AirAsia Indonesia, meanwhile, recorded an encouraging load factor of 77 percent in the second quarter, an increase of 10 ppts year on year.

    Domestic flights achieved a healthy load factor at 73 percent while the load factor for international flights was stronger at 86 percent.

    Passengers carried and capacity improved by 132 percent year on year and 102 percent year on year respectively, on the back of the resumption of international flights, with 29 percent of the total number of seats sold from international flights.

    The number of flights flown has also increased by 102 percent year on year.

    AirAsia Philippines, on the other hand, posted the highest load factor among the group’s airlines at 93 percent, which grew by 15 ppts year on year.

    In the second quarter, the number of passengers carried increased by 480 percent year on year and capacity expanded 388 percent year on year.

    Flight frequencies were added on popular routes to meet strong demand which increased ASKs by 309 percent and the number of flights flown jumped 388 percent year on year.

    In June, AirAsia Philippines resumed international routes to Kota Kinabalu, Seoul, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

    In the second quarter, AirAsia Thailand carried over 1.7 million passengers, up 133 percent year on year with a load factor of 75 percent, rising 14 ppts compared to the prior corresponding period.

    The airline added flight frequencies and routes to meet rising demand, resulting in an 87 percent increase in flights flown, to a total of 12,326 flights with 25 operating aircraft during the quarter.

    More international flights were reinstated during the quarter, operating 19 routes to 8 countries by the end of the second quarter.

    As a result, the ASK and seating capacity significantly rose by 116 percent and 90 percent respectively as compared to the same period last year.

    Additionally, the average sector length grew by 16 percent, mainly driven by flights from the South Asian market.

  • AirAsia X adds three new routes

    AirAsia X adds three new routes

    AirAsia X confirms its latest services to Melbourne (Tullamarine), and Perth in Australia and Auckland in New Zealand will launch on 1 November 2022.

    The three new services boost the airline’s routes to 13. It is already serving  Sydney, New Delhi, Seoul, Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka and Honolulu, as well as London, Dubai and Istanbul.

    AAX will recommence its services to Melbourne (Tullamarine), Perth and Auckland (via Sydney) with three weekly flights starting in November and gradually increasing to daily flights by the first quarter of 2023.

    On the AirAsia Super App and website, the starting fare to Perth is MYR 499, to Melbourne  MYR699 and Auckland MYR999 (inclusive one-way economy). Premium Flatbed fares start from MYR1,999 to Perth, MYR2,999 to Melbourne and MYR5,999 to Auckland.

    Guests flying to Kuala Lumpur can also enjoy all-in value fares one way from AUD209 from Perth, AUD359 from Melbourne, and NZD499 from Auckland in economy class.

    AAX also flies from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney with all-in fares from MYR899 (economy) and MYR2,799 (Premium Flatbed) one-way.

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  • AirAsia launched food delivery and ride-hailing in the Philippines

    AirAsia launched food delivery and ride-hailing in the Philippines

    Malaysia-based multinational low-cost airline AirAsia has expanded its portfolio by including two new businesses set to launch in the Philippines’ capital, Manila, by the end of 2022.

    AirAsia Super App will soon operate a ride hailing and food delivery service after it already secured a franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its ride-hailing service.

    The app officially launched in the Philippines in April 2021 and expanded its services to other Asian markets, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.

    The platform offers a full suite of services and comes with an integrated rewards programme and a mobile app. It offers affordable flight and hotel bookings, ecommerce capabilities, food and parcel delivery, ride hailing, financial and health services, as well as on-demand education, among others.

    The super app AirAsia aims to boost digitalisation in the APAC region while setting the tone for a cashless economy and catering to the underbanked population category.

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  • Cebu Pacific announces seat sale for 7.7

    Cebu Pacific announces seat sale for 7.7

    Cebu Pacific announced its 7.7 seat sale on Wednesday.

    In an advisory, the budget airline said travelers can avail of a P188 one-way base fare for domestic flights.

    The booking period is from July 7 to July 11, 2022, with a travel period from September 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023.

    Alongside the domestic flight sales, Cebu Pacific is also offering a special international seat sale for as low as P499 one-way base fare for the same travel period.

    “This includes flights to South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, among others,” the airline said.

  • Cebu Pacific resumes flights to Australia

    Cebu Pacific resumes flights to Australia

    Budget carrier Cebu Pacific said on Sunday it has expanded its Asia Pacific footprint with the resumption of its flights to Australia.

    With the easing of travel restrictions in the Philippines and Australia, Cebu Pacific has resumed its thrice weekly flights between Manila and Sydney.

    “With this route resumption, we are pleased to fly once again to and from this destination after more than two years. We know that many are excited to visit Sydney’s attractions like the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi beach, Taronga Zoo and many more,” said Xander Lao, Chief Commercial Officer at Cebu Pacific.

    He added: “This also allows Filipinos to reunite with friends and family. We will continue working on boosting seamless connections across our network to address demand.”

    Sydney requires arriving tourists to present printed copies of their Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate upon check-in. Travelers must also complete and submit their Digital Passenger Declaration form at least 72 hours before departure.

    Coming home, boosted Filipinos no longer need to take a Covid test pre-departure.

    As countries continue to reduce Covid-19 measures, Cebu Pacific plans to revitalize its international network. Its domestic network has already been restored to 100 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity.

    Last month, the airline announced that it will ramp up its flights to Singapore from Manila and Cebu.

    In an advisory, Cebu Pacific said it will double the daily frequency of its Manila-Singapore operations starting July 1, while its thrice weekly Cebu-Singapore route will reopen on July 15.

    “We are delighted to continue ramping-up our international flight frequencies, not only in Manila, but also in Cebu. We know majority of the traveling public have been looking forward to travel internationally again, especially since a lot of countries have eased their restrictions. We continue to work towards the expansion of our international network while we maintain operating over 100 percent of our pre-pandemic domestic capacity,” Lao said.

  • AirAsia eyes Sabah for route expansion

    AirAsia eyes Sabah for route expansion

    Philippines AirAsia will introduce more direct flights to Sabah and is considering establishing a hub in Sandakan as part of its expansion ambitions.

    The airline is currently studying the potential for direct routes to Kota Kinabalu from Puerto Princesa and Davao in the Philippines. A possible connection between Zamboanga and Sandakan is also on the list of possible direct routes, according to an assessment in a media statement released by the Sabah Tourism Board.

    State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said Sabah welcomed the plan, which would help both countries in terms of economic spillover.

    “One of the Sabah Maju Jaya plans is to ensure Sandakan Airport is upgraded to the international airport. We should explore additional direct routes into the state.

    “Tawau, being a gateway to Semporna, might potentially serve as an operational hub too. So, whether it’s Sandakan or Tawau, we’ll let them study the viability,” he said.

    Jafry was speaking at a recent press conference on the joint collaboration between the Philippines AirAsia and Sabah Tourism Board (STB)

    Also present were Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister cum STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of State Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Sr Yusrie Abdullah; STB deputy chairman Datuk Dr Jelani Hamdan; STB chief executive officer Noredah Othman; Philippines AirAsia chief executive officer Ricky Isla; and Philippines AirAsia SuperApp managing director Ray Berja.

    The press conference was in conjunction with the familiarisation trip to Sabah for the Philippines media.

    Speaking on the strategic partnership between STB and Air Asia, Jafry said the board is now finalising a collaborative technical campaign to encourage Filipinos to visit Kota Kinabalu.

    Ricky stated that Philippines Air Asia now flies twice weekly from Manila to Sabah, with plans to expand frequency.

    “We want to sustain the travel momentum, and for Sabah, we are not just looking at beaches but eco-tourism and agro-tourism, which are educational.

    “We are looking into the prospect of opening a new destination in Sandakan, which has one of the highest Filipino populations in Sabah, as part of our expansion plan,” he said

    Meanwhile, STB chief executive officer Noredah Othman said Manila has the potential to serve as another hub to attract international visitors and also to attract expatriates living in the Philippines.

    Although having certain similarities, she said Sabah and the Philippines each have unique contrasts that both sides should explore.

    Pre-pandemic, Noredah said the state of Sabah received 4.2 million visitors in 2019, with a promising rise in arrivals since the reopening of borders after two-year hiatus. Chinese visitors contributed the most arrivals in 2019, followed by South Koreans and Europeans.

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  • AirAsia X Eyes A Return To New Zealand

    AirAsia X Eyes A Return To New Zealand

    AirAsia X, the medium to long-haul affiliate airline of AirAsia Aviation Group, is launching flights to Auckland, New Zealand, via Australia. The announcement is the latest from the Kuala Lumpur International (KUL) based airline, which will offer seats to several new destinations as it returns from a significant restructuring.

    The Malaysian airline resumed operations earlier this year and currently serves Seoul and New Delhi from its base in Kuala Lumpur.

    AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail has confirmed that the carrier aims to restart flights to Australian destinations Melbourne and Perth, as well as a route to Auckland, New Zealand, via Australia.

    Adding a round-trip leg to New Zealand from Australia is quite a common practice. The flights are able to use fifth-freedom rights to carry on to New Zealand as opposed to parking the plane at an Australian airport for the day. Qatar Airways, for instance, flies to Auckland via Adelaide on one of the OneWorld carrier’s Boeing 777-300ERs. AirAsia X did not mention which airport would see the stopover service carry on to New Zealand.

    The airline previously operated flights to Auckland via Gold Coast Airport in Queensland but cut the Auckland leg of this service in February 2019. AirAsia X also launched direct flights to Christchurch in 2011 as the island was recovering from severe earthquake damage and donated a six-figure sum to help with restoration. The 11-hour flight lasted less than a year before being cut in early 2012.

    AirAsia X briefly restarted Sydney flights on Valentine’s Day of this year. The service only continued until April, however. Flights are now scheduled to resume in September of this year. The carrier previously flew from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney, carrying one million of some 2.4 passengers flying between the two countries in 2019.

    The airline has also now scheduled flights to resume to Tokyo Haneda on the 14th of July. The service will join the resumption of Osaka, also in Japan, in October. The Osaka flights will then continue to Honolulu before returning. Flights to Sapporo, the capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, will resume in December.

    The airline still has several next generation Airbus jets on order as it seeks to rebuild its network. Photo: AirAsia x

    AirAsia X also announced it intends to resume its London service, which will operate from Kuala Lumpur to London Gatwick via Dubai. The carrier initially launched the route to London Stansted Airport in 2009 using Airbus A340s before pulling it in January 2012. The service will include a layover in Dubai and launch in conjunction with a service to Istanbul.

    The airline’s fleet currently consists of twelve Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which seat 365 in economy class and 12 passengers in business class. AirAsia X currently has orders for twenty of the Airbus A321 family, alongside fifteen A330-900s for its upcoming long-haul service.

    Simple Flying previously reported that AirAsia X had canceled part of its sizeable outstanding order with Airbus. AirAsia X, the largest customer for the A330-900, has confirmed the cancellation of 63 A330neo orders, equaling a fifth of outstanding orders for the type. The airline also canceled ten A321neo aircraft orders, according to the latest available data from Airbus.

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