Xeque

I’ve been following today’s story about Air Asia’s plans to expand into the long haul market.
The latest is an announcement that they will buy 10 A330’s and that they will be expanding their routes to Australia, China, India, the Middle East and Europe/UK.
I’ve flown Air Asia 737’s locally and the airline is very good. Would you believe black leather seats?
I suppose that, with the current preoccupation with greenhouse gasses, global warming and climate change, one should reflect upon the additional pollution that might be created by cheaper long haul fares and an increase in passenger traffic.
Or will that be so? There must be a finite number of people who need to travel outside a given area. Perhaps a new and less expensive carrier will ‘poach’ passengers from the existing airlines rather than increase the overall total of those choosing to travel by air. In which case those other carriers may have to reduce their scheduled flights rather than operate with less than 100% loads thereby maintaining some sort of status quo.
Or am I fooling myself?
There is no reason why the low cost model cannot be applied to long haul operations. I wouldn’t mind buying my meals and beverages or paying a fee for my in flight entertainment provided that I am given the opportunity of providing these things for myself if I choose.
Trouble is, how can I convince some Neanderthal security man that my bottle of Bollinger and the contents of my picnic basket is not something that might be used to create an explosive substance?
There will be an inevitable increase in overhead. The low-cost short haul market benefits from the fact that many crews come ‘home’ at the end of their working day. Now you will have relief crews requiring hotel accommodation and subsistence all along the extended routes.
The only other consideration is passenger comfort. One can put up with a 27 inch seat pitch for a couple of hours but long haul? Forget it. If that happens then the whole thing is doomed from the start.
Good luck Tony Fernandes and Air Asia.

fireflybob

I wonder! I suppose in certain cases the return sector crew could "deadhead" outbound to operate the return service and the outbound crew then "deadhead" on the way back! I am sure the beancounters are already working on this one. Time will tell.

knobbygb

From AirAsia website t's and c':

10.4 Passengers are not allowed to consume their own food on board.

Blantant profiteering and the reason why, when in the region earlier in the year, I clicked 'close' on the browser just when I was about to book a flight. At the time I'm sure it said "food or drink". Lets just hope a certain Irish airline owner doesn't see that.

easyJet Galley King

Anybody have any idea when AirAsiaX will launch?

I gather they have started to recieve the aircraft, but still no ability to book anything???

GLENO

Their A330 is due into Manchester on Tuesday Morning and is staying for a couple of days.Think its connected with the Champions League game against Roma this week. Don't know about any routes from the Uk, but Brisbane from Malaysia went on sale last week with some really cheap fares I seem to remember...

MAN Guy

Didn't realize the MAN visit was probably in connection with the football...... I had my fingers crossed that it would be to announce MAN as their UK start up airport in a blaze of publicity

alangirvan

Flights between Malaysia and Gold Coast (just south of Brisbane) are on sale now at Air Asia site. Western meal will be a choice of a foot long hot dog or a chicken pie.

GLENO

ManGuy, hoping myself that the annoucement will come this week or are we simply putting 2+2 together and making 5????

Update on the flight arriving for the United Game A320 now due 01/10 @ 8.10hrs..........9M AFC Man United Logojet.

easyJet Galley King

Their route map shows flights from both MAN and STN. It is actually easier for me to jump on an easy flight to PRG though and get it from there, but as yet no European flights on sell.

Any ideas when this will be?

cesare.caldi

European flights probably start in 2008 when will receive new planes.

420

well as the rumours get even more upbeat... i hear now there is like a 95% chance that air asia will be purchasing 20 787 dreamliners....


geez.... so much for the whole airbus revolution. they're just getting rid of the boeings... and in comes more.

whats the story man.

DONTTELLTHEPAX

So any news on UK destinations,

DONTTELLTHEPAX

Budget carrier AirAsia has been given permission to fly the lucrative Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the decision to break a monopoly held by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

Malaysia-based AirAsia and Singapore's Tiger Airways will now be able to operate the route, setting the stage for a price war.

From December, AirAsia and Tiger will be able to operate two daily flights each from Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and from Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on Borneo Island.

420

as for the new UK destiantions im not sure. I know though that currently the plan is to lease two A340's initially early 2008 and these will be operating direct KL-UK until the so called 787's or A350's or whatever it is they are buying come into the picture in a later time. makes more sense to keep and maintain the whole fleet on airbus though since it saves on trg costs (only ccq required).

there's no fuss when your'e on a bus.

LGS6753

Air Asia X will be starting UK operations in March 2009 with a leased A340. One of the London airports will be the first destination, probably STN. Initially there will be 5 flights a week to KUL, increasing to 14.
This according to The Star newspaper, reported by J4A.

JulietNovemberPapa

D7 will fly six-weekly from KUL to PER starting 2nd November, apparently increasing to daily in 2009.

It's already listed in its dull-down menu, but it's unavailable for booking until midnight Western Australia time.

Introductory fares from AUD$99 one-way apparently including taxes.

JulietNovemberPapa

Two new AirAsia routes:

KUL-Guilin: Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat.
KUL-Manado: Sun, Tue, Fri.

These new routes means AK now serves from KUL 6 Chinese destinations (I've included Hong Kong and Macau, but I haven't included D7's Hangzhou route) and 13 Indonesian destinations.

AK has stated that it'll serve two more Indonesian destinations from KUL: Balikpapan and Batam. Moreover, D7 will fly from KUL to Tirchirapalli (India) and Tianjin (China).

harrogate

So, I've been reading this weekend that Air Asia are still set to launch Stansted-KL around easter '09.

Any informed ideas when the fares might be one sale?

I can guess myself, so if anyone can add a bit of inside speculation, then it'd be appreciated.

Ta.

flyzen

Now announced on website as "coming soon"

daz211

Flight are from Stansted, first flight due march, tickets were to go on sale this month.

A/C to be used A340 .