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On 28 September 2007, AirAsia X unveiled the Gold Coast as its first long haul international destination. The airline will commence four direct return flights per week between [[Gold Coast Airport]] and Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), Kuala Lumpur beginning 2 November 2007. 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 in September 2007. One way fares were as low as RM50 excluding fees, RM342 including fees.
On 28 September 2007, AirAsia X unveiled the Gold Coast as its first long haul international destination. The airline will commence four direct return flights per week between [[Gold Coast Airport]] and Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), Kuala Lumpur beginning 2 November 2007. 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 in September 2007. One way fares were as low as RM50 excluding fees, RM342 including fees.


Flights to [[Avalon Airport|Avalon]], near [[Melbourne]], could begin around March next year, and to [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] in [[London]] from late 2008 after AirAsia X can obtain enough aircraft to make this long haul service viable. Flights to Stansted will require a technical stop in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf Region]] to refuel as the A330-300 aircraft is not capable to serve Western Europe non-stop from Southeast Asia.<ref >{{cite news|work=News Limited|title=AirAsia to fly to Victoria, Queensland|url=http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22222403-31037,00.html|date=[[2007-08-10]]}}</ref>
Flights to [[Avalon Airport|Avalon]], near [[Melbourne]], could begin around March next year, and to [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] in [[London]] from late 2008 after AirAsia X can obtain enough aircraft to make this long haul service viable. Flights to Stansted will require a technical stop in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf Region]] to refuel as the A330-300 aircraft is not capable to serve Western Europe non-stop from Southeast Asia.<ref >{{cite news|work=News Limited|title=AirAsia to fly to Victoria, Queensland|url=http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22222403-31037,00.html|date=[[2007-08-10]]}}</ref>. It will also begin its charter flight to Dhaka on the 3rd December 2007.


AirAsia X has also secured rights to land in China, Korea and West Asia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Virgin Group Takes 20 Pct Stake In AirAsia X|work=Bernama|url=http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=278631}}</ref>
AirAsia X has also secured rights to land in China, Korea and West Asia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Virgin Group Takes 20 Pct Stake In AirAsia X|work=Bernama|url=http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=278631}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:00, 30 November 2007

AirAsia X
File:Aax.gif
IATA ICAO Callsign
D7 XAX XANADU
Founded2007
HubsKuala Lumpur International Airport
Fleet size1 (15 on order)
Destinations3
Parent companyAirAsia X Sdn. Bhd.
HeadquartersKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Key peopleTony Fernandes, Sir Richard Branson
Websitehttp://www.airasia.com

AirAsia X, is a new long haul budget airline operated by AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd. (previously known as FlyAsianXpress Sdn. Bhd.) [1]. Its first operation has commenced on November 3 2007 to Gold Coast, Australia from its base Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

AirAsia X franchises the brand name of AirAsia, Asia's largest low cost carrier, which uses a common ticketing website, livery, uniforms, and management style with AirAsia.[2]

AirAsia X is also affiliated with Virgin Group, which assists in management, expertise, and infrastructure. [3]

History

File:AAHL routes.jpg
Proposed AirAsia X destinations

On May 17, 2007, Tony Fernandes announced plans to commence flights from Malaysia to Australia. Fernandes has said he will be avoiding Sydney Airport due to its high fees, instead concentrating on cheaper alternatives such as Melbourne's Avalon Airport, Newcastle and Adelaide. Sustained fares are predicted to be around MYR 800 (AUD 285) return plus taxes.[4] Interest was also expressed of Gold Coast as another Australian destination.[5]

Several major developments were announced on 10 August 2007. AirAsia X announced its first route from Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast. One way fares for this route have been touted to begin at MYR 50 (AUD 17) excluding taxes and charges, with average return prices to be approximately MYR 1,900 (AUD 647), excluding taxes and charges.[6]

The airline also announced that Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group will take a 20% share in the airline to help kick-start its long haul operations and to finance aircraft purchases. [7][8] Branson also forecast a strong possibility of formal links between Virgin Blue and AirAsia X in the future, such as codesharing and frequent flyer programme.[9][10]

The first AirAsia X aircraft, arrived at KL International Airport, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 15 September 2007, is named "Semangat Sir Freddie" (English: "Spirit of Sir Freddie") after the pioneer and founder of the low cost model, the late Sir Freddie Laker of Skytrain in Europe. [11]

FlyAsianXpress

File:FAX logo.gif
FlyAsianXpress logo

FlyAsianXpress (FAX) was an airline based in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. It operated services on some of the smaller routes dropped by national carrier Malaysia Airlines. Its routes has been taken over by MASwings as FAX concentrates on AirAsia X.

FAX was privately owned by Meranun Kamarudin, Raja Razali, Raja Raja Azmi and Tony Fernandes. The airline was subcontracted by AirAsia to operate several domestic services following the withdrawal of Malaysia Airlines from Rural Air Service routes within East Malaysia. Its maiden flight was on August 1 2006, despite being delayed for 50 minutes by bad weather[12]. FAX was not a low cost carrier[13] but it incorporated some of AirAsia’s practices in order to reduce cost namely, internet and phone booking, as well as ticketless check-in system.

Early criticisms

Within days of operation it was subject to a flood of criticisms from commuters, civil servants, and people working in the tourism industry, with critics arguing that the new turboprop service provided by FAX should not be more expensive than the Rural Air Service previously operated by Malaysia Airlines, given that FAX is subsidised by the Malaysian government. As well as this, poor services such as sudden flight cancellation without notice has also frustrated passengers [14]. The CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board also stated that disruptions to cargo supply flights to the interior caused tourists to [15] take their own food rations, rather than rely upon the air cargo supplies of food and fuel [16]. Recently FAX has released a new flight timetable citing the sudden need for heavy maintenance on its Fokker 50 fleet as the trigger for severe disruptions to its schedules.

Handover back to Malaysia Airlines

On April 11, 2007, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, the parent company of FAX, Tony Fernandes disclosed the offer to the public on the hand over of FAX's rural routes to Firefly, the subsidiary airline of Malaysia Airlines. He described it as "the logical thing to do" as Firefly can be the only national company operating turbo-prop aircraft.[17] On April 26, 2007, the government has announced for Malaysia Airlines to take over the operation of rural air services from FAX and gave assurance that any loss will be bore by government. [18] Malaysia Airlines announced to take over FlyAsianXpress destinations beginning 1 August, 2007 through a new subsidiary, MASwings.

FlyAsianXpress and AirAsia X

With FlyAsianXpress rural air services replaced with MASwings, the corporate name is changed from FlyAsianXpress Sdn. Bhd. to AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd.[19]

Shareholders

AirAsia X is 60%-owned by Aero Ventures (a venture of Tony Fernandes and several of his business associates), 20%-owned by Virgin Group and 20%-owned by AirAsia.[20]

On October 13, 2007, AirAsia X is reportedly selling a 10 percent stake each to Japan's Orix Group and Bahrain's Perigon Capital for a total of US$75 million, a report said Saturday.[21] This brings down the shares of Aero Ventures to 40%.

Destinations

AirAsia X announced Gold Coast, Australia as its first destination.[22] On 28 September 2007, AirAsia X unveiled the Gold Coast as its first long haul international destination. The airline will commence four direct return flights per week between Gold Coast Airport and Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), Kuala Lumpur beginning 2 November 2007. 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 in September 2007. One way fares were as low as RM50 excluding fees, RM342 including fees.

Flights to Avalon, near Melbourne, could begin around March next year, and to Stansted in London from late 2008 after AirAsia X can obtain enough aircraft to make this long haul service viable. Flights to Stansted will require a technical stop in the Gulf Region to refuel as the A330-300 aircraft is not capable to serve Western Europe non-stop from Southeast Asia.[23]. It will also begin its charter flight to Dhaka on the 3rd December 2007.

AirAsia X has also secured rights to land in China, Korea and West Asia.[24]

It is planned that future expansion of the airline will include destinations in India, the Middle East and Europe.[25][26] Malaysian government has reportedly given AirAsia X rights to 36 international destinations.[25]

Southeast Asia

Oceania

Fleet

As Of September 2007, the AirAsia X Fleet Is
Aircraft # Seats Engine Notes
Airbus A330-300 1 315 (36/279) General Electric 8 abreast in economy
Airbus A330-300 0 (15 on Order) 396 (28/368) RR Trent 700 9 abreast in economy


On 14 May 2007, AirAsia confirmed that it had ordered 15 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, 5 more than originally announced. [27] The aircraft are scheduled for delivery from the fourth quarter of 2008. AirAsia would make a decision on whether to buy a further 10 A330-300 aircraft by end of 2007. AirAsia also will receive 2 leased Airbus A340 by November and December 2008. [28]

References

  1. ^ AirAsia gets FIC nod for RCPS subscription
  2. ^ "X-citing deal for air travellers". The Star. 2007-01-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)The Airline will be operating "incredibly" cheap prices to and from Asia to the East Coast of Australia
  3. ^ "AirAsia X en route". smh.com. 18 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Cut-price airlines landing like flies". Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-05-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Jetstar terminates Melbourne-Hawaii route". 2007-08-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Fly from Australia to Malaysia for $A31". {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  7. ^ "AirAsia to fly to Victoria, Queensland". News Limited. 2007-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Branson to take 20 per cent stake in AirAsia". The Age. 2007-08-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Daniel Breen. "Billionaire Branson and AirAsia X move into Avalon". The Geelong Advertiser.
  10. ^ "Aussies offered $31 flights to Malaysia". Herald Sun.
  11. ^ http://www.airasia.com/site/en/pressRelease.jsp?id=4ecbd7df-ac1e00ae-1ad0d890-818ad7e7
  12. ^ "A smooth debut for FAX". Daily Express. Kota Kinabalu. 2006-08-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "About FAX, FAX Told". FlyAsianXpress.com.
  14. ^ "Commuters express disappointment over rural air services offered by FAX". Borneo Bulletin. 2006-08-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Bario
  16. ^ "Be Sensitive To Rural People's Needs, FAX Told". Bernama. 2006-08-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ FAX: Let Firefly take over
  18. ^ Rural services back to MAS
  19. ^ [1]
  20. ^ [2]
  21. ^ "Report: Malaysia's AirAsia X to get Japanese, Middle East investors". International Herald Tribune. October 13, 2007.
  22. ^ "AFly-from-Australia-to-Malaysia-for-A31". The Age. 2007-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "AirAsia to fly to Victoria, Queensland". News Limited. 2007-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Virgin Group Takes 20 Pct Stake In AirAsia X". Bernama.
  25. ^ a b "AirAsia X to order up to 15 A330-300". Luchtzak.be. 2007-04-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Luchtzak.be" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  26. ^ "Budget airline Air Asia to reveal its destinations in India and Australia".
  27. ^ [3]
  28. ^ AirAsia confirms 15 Airbus A330-300 deal [4]

See also

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