分类： Air Asia

MANILA, Philippines – Low cost carrier AirAsia Malaysia Berhad is looking at transforming Clark International Airport in Pampanga as its hub for long haul operations after its local unit – AirAsia Inc. Philippines — transferred to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

This developed as the rebranded AirAsia Zest — a strategic alliance between AirAsia Philippines and Zest Airways Inc. of Ambassador Alfredo Yao — is scheduled to be launched on Oct. 26.

AirAsia Zest chairman Michael Romero said AirAsia X is being convinced to operate out of the former US military naval base in Pampanga.

“For now our plan is to put the AirAsia X which is the long haul. But that would take about a year or two. We are trying to convince AirAsia X to locate in Clark,” Romero said.

AirAsia X was established in 2007 to provide high-frequency and point-to-point networks to the long-haul business. AirAsia X’s cost efficiencies are derived from maintaining a simple aircraft fleet and a route network based on low-cost airports, without complex code-sharing and other legacy overheads that weigh down traditional airlines without compromising on safety.

According to Romero, the plan to set up a long-haul hub for AirAsia X came about after Emirates and Qatar Airways decided to start long haul operations at Clark International Airport for direct flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“Clark is being converted into long haul with the entry of Emirates and Qatar Airways,” he said.

Romero, who is vice chairman of AirAsia Philippines, pointed out that AirAsia Zest would pool traffic from Manila from short-haul flights and transfer them to Clark for AirAsia X that could fly to Australia, Europe, and even the US.

Romero said existing shareholders of AirAsia Philippines and Zest Air are infusing close to $100 million to bankroll the operations as well as the refleeting program of the combined airline.

“The whole group is pumping in $100 million. Right now we have 13 aircraft and we will go to 16 planes by the end of the year,” he said.

Yao’s ZestAir entered into a strategic alliance agreement with AirAsia Philippines last March 11. Under the agreement, AirAsia Philippines would acquire an 85 percent economic interest and 49 percent voting rights in ZestAir as well as a 100 percent interest in Yao’s Asiawide Airways Inc.

The transaction was consummated last May 10, wherein Yao’s ZestAir got $16 million as well as 13 percent interest in AirAsia Philippines

After the transaction, AirAsia Berhad of Malaysia now owns 40 percent of AirAsia Philippines while Filipino investors led by Romero, Yao, Marianne Hontiveros and Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco Jr. control 60 percent.

预订链接

Book Now

亚航，吉隆坡-马尔代夫，768元单程含税，吉隆坡-斯里兰卡，383元单程含税，旅行日期：10月14日-3月29日，含春节

AirAsia X has launched flights between Kuala Lumpur and the Maldives. The flight operates via Colombo, Sri Lanka, four times per week.

In celebration, AirAsia X is offering special deals from as low as MYR399 (US$129) in Economy and MYR959 (US$299) in Premium to Male, Maldives and from as low as MYR199 (US$76) in Economy and MYR959 (US$311) in Premium to Colombo, Sri Lanka from Kuala Lumpur. Bookings are available online between now and 13 October 2013 for travel between 14 October 2013 and 29 March 2014.

“We are truly grateful for the support that the government, airport and tourism bodies in Maldives have given us and hope our partnership brings more traffic into Maldives from Sri Lanka and Malaysia in future. Similarly, we hope to increase tourism traffic from Maldives and Sri Lanka into Malaysia,” said Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X. “In addition to our affordable fare offerings, our new Fly Thru destinations for the route would also enable Maldivians to connect seamlessly via our Kuala Lumpur hub to Sydney and Melbourne in Australia and Osaka in Japan. This will further stimulate feeder traffic within the AirAsia X network.”

The AirAsia X’s Fly-Thru service allows guests to easily connect between two different flights via the Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal without having to worry about checking in twice.

Ibrahim Saleem, Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Ltd said, “We are indeed honored to have such a reputed airline and we are confident that AirAsia X will add values to our airport and we will fully support Air Asia X in every way. I would like to convey our special thanks on behalf of Maldives Airports Company Ltd to AirAsia X team for choosing Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in their route expansion and I wish AirAsia X all the best in their future endeavors. AirAsia X’s new route to INIA would boost the Maldivian tourism and trade benefiting the economy.”

预订链接

Book Now

AirAsia has announced its newest route, Bangkok-Phitsanulok. Starting from November 30, the airline will operate two daily flights between the two cities with brand-new Airbus A320 planes.
“In the first three quarters of 2013, AirAsia was focused on increasing flights between our most popular destinations in order to make our passengers’ travel experience more convenient and flexible,” said Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive of Thai AirAsia. “In the fourth quarter of this year, we will be receiving five additional new aircraft, ending the year with a total of 35 Airbus A320s, which will be used for new destinations, two of which are domestic routes.”

The airline also recently announced the launch of two daily flights between Bangkok and Khon Kaen.

“Phitsanulok’s location in the central part of Thailand’s lower Northern region makes it an ideal travel gateway and hub for business travellers,” Tassapon said. “We are taking this opportunity to strengthen our domestic connectivity to this city which has positive potential as an economic centre and tourism gateway for the surrounding cities.

“AirAsia’s brand-new planes, low fares, and excellent connectivity to over 85 destinations in the region makes it a perfect choice for all travellers. Along with Thai AirAsia’s most recent positive on-time performance record as a result of the airline’s move to Don Mueang Airport, business travellers can be assured that they will arrive on time for their meetings.”

Santisuk Klongchaiya, director of commercial operations for Thai AirAsia said: “We are also aiming to provide more convenience to tourists and leisure travellers who are interested in exploring Phitsanulok and nearby destinations such as Sukhothai, Thailand’s ancient capital with World Heritage sites, which is only a one-hour bus ride away. Other nearby cities include Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Loei, Phichit and Kamphaeng Phet – destinations that are full of cultural and natural attractions.

“The twice-daily flights between Bangkok and Phitsanulok will fulfil the travel needs for many people, including those in the government and education sectors who often need to conduct training programmes in Bangkok. The frequent flight times will enable them to accomplish a convenient day trip,” Santisuk added.

Panadda Chanpanya, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s northern markets division, said: “We are confident that the launch of AirAsia’s new route will have a positive impact on tourism for the area.

“Along with the airline’s connectivity to international destinations, more tourists from abroad will be able to access Phitsanulok and its nearby cities including Uttaradit, Phrae, Nan, Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet.

“Along with this, more Thai people will also be able to travel conveniently to this area, and this will benefit the local economy, which is in line with what we are working towards at the Tourism Authority of Thailand.”

AirAsia will suspend its thrice weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Clark in the Philippines effective Oct 31 as part of its route network realignment.

In a statement, the low-cost carrier said guests that are affected by the suspension of this route would be offered options to alleviate any inconvenience that might occur and each affected guest will be notified via their registered member e-mail account on the AirAsia website, as well as, an SMS notification of the route suspension.

AirAsia’s customer service personnel would also notify each affected guest via phone on the options available to them.

The airlines also urged all guests to keep their e-mail addresses and mobile numbers with their country code prefix updated in their AirAsia member profiles to ensure that the airline can reach them to provide assistance due to the suspension of the route.

Affected guests from/to Clark would be able to choose either one-time transfer, at no extra cost and subject to availability, to an earlier flight of the same route or one-time transfer, at no extra cost and subject to availability, to AirAsia Zest flight to/from Manila.

Besides, affected customers could also convert the value of the total fare to an online credit shell with a validity period of 180 days or have a full refund.

Meanwhile, affected Fly-Thru guests from/to Clark would be offered either one-time transfer, at no extra cost and subject to availability, to an earlier flight of the same route or one-time transfer as point to point, at no extra cost and subject to availability, to AirAsia Zest flight to/from Manila.

They can also opt for Fly-Thru fee to be converted as online credit shell value or conversion of the value of the total fare to an online credit shell with a validity period of 180 days.

They can also ask for a full refund, it said.

Guests can also get in touch with AirAsia’s Customer Care Team via social media by simply tweeting to twitter.com/AskAirAsia for further enquiries about this route suspension. – Bernama, October 5, 2013.