The head of Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia said yesterday he hoped to secure approval by May to fly between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and could operate 20 flights a day on the lucrative route.
Tony Fernandes, who has promised much lower ticket prices than are currently available on the route, said aviation officials from Malaysia and Singapore were expected to meet next month to iron out the details.
"Obviously, it is an important route for us. It is like the busy Paris-London route. And it will surely be profitable," Fernandes told said, adding that Kuala Lumpur was "set to become a hub for low cost carriers."
"By April or May I hope to get the approval," he said.
Gaining access
AirAsia has been pushing hard for access to the route, which is dominated by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
The two carriers account for 85 percent of traffic on the 30-minute route between the two cities, with a confirmed round-trip ticket departing from Singapore costing more than S$450 (US$294), including taxes.
Fernandes said a one-way AirAsia ticket would start from US$60.
The AirAsia chief also said the airline had taken delivery of 16 new A320 Airbus aircraft and would have 23 jets in June.
"We are very happy with the A320 aircraft. The operation cost of the jets is lower than expected. The fuel burn is less than expected," he said.
Fernandes also brushed aside any fears of competition from Singapore budget airline Tiger Airways.
Tiger, which began flying in 2004, is owned by four shareholders including Singapore Airlines and state-linked Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings.
Formula
Fernandes brought budget air travel to Southeast Asia in 2001 with his successful short-haul low-cost formula.
Last month he surprised the aviation industry by announcing a new budget airline, AirAsia X, for long-haul routes.
AirAsia X will announce its choice of 20 aircraft -- which is believed to be worth some US$4 billion -- next month for its service to Britain and China, Raja Mohamad Azmi, chief executive officer of Fly Asian Express (FAX), said yesterday.
"An evaluation to pick either Airbus 330-300 or Boeing 777-200 for the new long-haul carrier AirAsia X has been completed and an announcement will be made in March," he said.
He did not elaborate.
The airline will be operated by FAX, which operates rural air services on Borneo island.
Deciding factors
Airline officials familiar with the purchase plan said price and availability of aircraft are among the major factors in deciding the winner.
Raja Azmi said that the new service will take off in August with inaugural flights to Britain and China expected to be launched simultaneously.
"We will initially lease three aircraft -- either the Boeing 777-200 or the Airbus 330-300 to begin the service," he said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College