Airliners-India.com

selecta · Member Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 813 Location: ORD

Saturday Jan 6 08:29 AEDT
source

Tony Fernandes, the founder of Malaysia's budget carrier AirAsia, has unveiled a new no-frills airline that will fly long-haul flights to Britain and China from July.

The airline, named AirAsia X, is owned by Fly Asian Express, or FAX, a domestic airline in which Fernandes holds a 50 per cent stake.

Malaysian carrier AirAsia, which Fernandes started in 2002, inked a deal with FAX to franchise the company's brand.

"The launch of AirAsia X will bring independence to the long-haul, low-cost traveller, by providing a choice of service for their long-haul travel requirements," Fernandes said.

Beginning in July, AirAsia X will fly to Tianjin and Hangzhou in China and either Manchester or London in Britain.

Tickets can be purchased online beginning February on AirAsia's website. The company is offering promotional fares of 9.99 ringgit (about $A3.64) one-way on the Kuala Lumpur-Britain route.

FAX chief executive Raja Mohamad Azmi said the normal fares are expected to be half of the prevailing market rates.

AirAsia X has plans to fly to India, Australia and other parts of Europe.

Fernandes targets the new airline to carry 500,000 passengers in its first year.

The company will lease three aircraft for its inaugural flights to the three destinations in July but it is looking to buy 20 planes, either Boeing 777-300ER or Airbus 330-300.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy, who officiated the launching ceremony of the new airline, gave assurances that AirAsia X would not have any impact on state-owned carrier Malaysia Airlines.

AirAsia X at present, he said, is only allowed traffic rights to routes not serviced by Malaysia Airlines.

Fernandes, together with two other major shareholders of AirAsia, launched FAX last year as a result of the government's restructuring of its domestic air services.

FAX operates turbo prop air services to the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak, the two Malaysian states in Borneo, services which it took over from Malaysia Airlines under the government's plan.

AirAsia, meanwhile, has grown leaps and bounds since it first started flying in January 2002 with just two aircraft. It now has a fleet of 50 planes and flies to over 40 destinations in Southeast Asia and China.
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D-ABTH · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:55 am Post subject:

judging by current Air Asia makeup technic wise.. i'd think Airbus would be fav to win their orders
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If it aint Boeing.. I aint going.

selecta · Member Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 813 Location: ORD

AirAsia poised to place massive Airbus order Monday including possible A330s as it unveils long-haul arm with flights to UK
By Leithen Francis
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Airbus is set to announce a massive deal for A320 and A330 family aircraft with Malaysia's AirAsia, which launches its long-haul low-fares arm AirAsia X today in Kuala Lumpur.

Industry sources say the Malaysia-based low-cost carrier’s top executives will be in the UK capital on Monday to unveil an order for over 30 Airbus A320s. The total order, including options, could exceed 100 A320s, they add. One well-placed source also says Airbus has agreed to deliver some of the aircraft before 2012.

The airline, which currently operates 15 A320s and 35 Boeing 737s with another 85 A320s on firm order, requires more A320s due to its rapid expansion and its associate carriers in Thailand and Indonesia. The group has plans for services to India and additional services to China and the Philippines.

AirAsia X is poised to take the A330-300 for its launch in July. The carrier, which is being set up by AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes and several of his associates, plans to launch in July with three leased aircraft and have the purchased aircraft arrive later

One well-placed industry source, however, says Airbus and AirAsia X may fail to conclude negotiations for A330s in time to make Monday’s announcement.

AirAsia X plans to launch in July with services from Kuala Lumpur to Tianjin and Hangzhou in China and from Kuala Lumpur to the UK, says Fernandes.

He says the Malaysian government has granted AirAsia X traffic rights to Birmingham and Manchester, and that it was looking at granting rights to London.

Fernandes says they are considering the A330-300 and Boeing 777-300ER for AirAsia X, which will operate only one aircraft type. He describes Airbus’ A330 replacement, the A350XWB, as the perfect aircraft for AirAsia X. However, he adds that they are first looking at the A330 as the A350XWB is a new aircraft type under development and will only be available in later years.
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