Air Asia X Leaving STN, the reasons
Traffic decline at Stansted main reason for AirAsia X move to Gatwick
13.07.11
The decision by AirAsia X to switch its flights from Stansted to Gatwick from October was made as it had suffered a 10% decline in passengers connecting from low-cost airlines at Stansted to its flights, Travel Weekly reports. The airline blamed a combination of air passenger duty (APD), the high oil price and falling UK consumer spending for the decline in traffic.
AirAsia X announced yesterday that it will close its Stansted operation and launch from Gatwick on October 24, flying five times a week to Kuala Lumpur – moving to six flights a week from mid-December.
Airline chief executive Azran Osman-Rani told Travel Weekly: ‘The high air tax negated the strategic advantage of Stansted. Gatwick has a bigger catchment area and it’s a better market for higher-fare flights. In a period of high costs you have to get higher yield [passengers]. You are seeing some of the budget airlines shifting aircraft to Gatwick [for the same reason].’
He said the decision to move was not easy, adding: ‘Stansted has been a fantastic partner.’ But he insisted there was nothing Stansted could have done to change his mind. ‘It would not change the economics if the airport was free,’ he said.