AirAsia X
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| AirAsia X | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| IATA D7 |
ICAO XAX |
Callsign XANADU |
| Founded | 2007 | |
| Hubs | Kuala Lumpur International Airport(Low Cost Carrier Terminal) | |
| Fleet size | 1 (+25 orders) | |
| Destinations | 3(1 chartered) | |
| Company slogan | Now Everyone Can Fly Xtra Long | |
| Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Key people | Tony Fernandes, Sir Richard Branson, Azran Osman Rani | |
| Website: http://www.airasia.com | ||
AirAsia X, is a new long haul budget airline operated by AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd. (previously known as FlyAsianXpress Sdn. Bhd.) [1]. Its first operation has commenced on November 3, 2007 to Gold Coast, Australia from its base Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
AirAsia X franchises the brand name of AirAsia, Asia's largest low cost carrier, which uses a common ticketing website, livery, uniforms, and management style with AirAsia.[2]
AirAsia X is also affiliated with Virgin Group, which assists in management, expertise, and infrastructure. [3]
Contents |
[edit] History
On May 17, 2007, Tony Fernandes announced plans to commence flights from Malaysia to Australia. Fernandes has said he will be avoiding Sydney Airport due to its high fees, instead concentrating on cheaper alternatives such as Melbourne's Avalon Airport, Newcastle and Adelaide. Sustained fares were predicted to be around MYR 800 (AUD 285) return plus taxes.[4] Interest was also expressed of Gold Coast as another Australian destination.[5]
Several major developments were announced on 10 August 2007. AirAsia X announced its first route from Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast. One way fares for this route have been touted to begin at MYR 50 (AUD 17) excluding taxes and charges, with average return prices to be approximately MYR 1,900 (AUD 647), excluding taxes and charges.[6]
The airline also announced that Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group will take a 20% share in the airline to help kick-start its long haul operations and to finance aircraft purchases. [7][8] Branson also forecast a strong possibility of formal links between Virgin Blue and AirAsia X in the future, such as codesharing and frequent flyer programme.[9][10]
The first AirAsia X aircraft, arrived at KL International Airport, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 15 September 2007, is named "Semangat Sir Freddie" (English: "Spirit of Sir Freddie") after the pioneer and founder of the low cost model, the late Sir Freddie Laker of Skytrain in Europe. [11]
Current CEO of AirAsia X is Azran Osman Rani.
[edit] FlyAsianXpress
FlyAsianXpress (FAX) was an airline based in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. It operated services on some of the smaller routes dropped by national carrier Malaysia Airlines. Its routes has been taken over by MASwings as FAX concentrates on AirAsia X.
FAX was privately owned by Meranun Kamarudin, Raja Razali, Raja Raja Azmi and Tony Fernandes. The airline was subcontracted by AirAsia to operate several domestic services following the withdrawal of Malaysia Airlines from Rural Air Service routes within East Malaysia. Its maiden flight was on August 1 2006, despite being delayed for 50 minutes by bad weather[12]. FAX was not a low cost carrier[13] but it incorporated some of AirAsia’s practices in order to reduce cost namely, internet and phone booking, as well as ticketless check-in system.
Within days of operation it was subject to a flood of criticisms from commuters, civil servants, and people working in the tourism industry, with critics arguing that the new turboprop service provided by FAX should not be more expensive than the Rural Air Service previously operated by Malaysia Airlines, given that FAX is subsidised by the Malaysian government. As well as this, poor services such as sudden flight cancellation without notice has also frustrated passengers [14]. The CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board also stated that disruptions to cargo supply flights to the interior caused tourists to [15] take their own food rations, rather than rely upon the air cargo supplies of food and fuel [16]. Recently FAX has released a new flight timetable citing the sudden need for heavy maintenance on its Fokker 50 fleet as the trigger for severe disruptions to its schedules.
On April 11, 2007, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, the parent company of FAX, Tony Fernandes disclosed the offer to the public on the hand over of FAX's rural routes to Firefly, the subsidiary airline of Malaysia Airlines. He described it as "the logical thing to do" as Firefly can be the only national company operating turbo-prop aircraft.[17] On April 26, 2007, the government has announced for Malaysia Airlines to take over the operation of rural air services from FAX and gave assurance that any loss will be bore by government. [18] Malaysia Airlines announced to take over FlyAsianXpress destinations beginning 1 August 2007 through a new subsidiary, MASwings.
[edit] FlyAsianXpress and AirAsia X
With FlyAsianXpress rural air services replaced with MASwings, the corporate name is changed from FlyAsianXpress Sdn. Bhd. to AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd.[19]
[edit] Shareholders
The entrance of two new major investors has given the company more financial aids for the expansion plan.
As of February 14, 2008, AirAsia X is 48%-owned by Aero Ventures (a venture of Tony Fernandes and several of his business associates), followed by 16% Virgin Group and 16%-owned by AirAsia. Bahrain-based Manara Consortium and Japan-based Orix Corp have taken a total 20 percent stake in long haul low-cost carrier AirAsia X Sdn Bhd for RM250 million.[20]
[edit] Destinations
AirAsia X announced Gold Coast, Australia as its first destination.[21] On 28 September 2007, AirAsia X unveiled the Gold Coast as its first long haul international destination. The airline commenced four direct return flights per week between Gold Coast Airport and Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), Kuala Lumpur beginning on 2 November 2007. The inaugural flight carried a total of 312 guests, consisting of 276 economy seats and 36 premium XL seats, serviced by the airline’s Airbus A330-300 aircraft which arrived in September 2007. One way fares were as low as RM50 excluding fees, RM342 including fees.
AirAsia X's second Australian destination is Perth International Airport. Flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport will begin on November 2nd 2008 with an introductory fare of $99 to cover taxes and fuel surcharge. AirAsia X will launch flights six times a week from both cities.[22] This route is expected to bring 40,000 international visitors to WA in the first year. [23]
AirAsia also announced on May 11, 2008 that it had signed a lease agreement with an unmentioned company for an Airbus A340, to be used on flights from Kuala Lumpur to London. It will receive the A340 in January of 2009, and after replacing interiors, will begin the services in March of 2009. [4]
Air Asia X is targeting $1000AU return fares between Australia and the UK (including taxes/charges).[24]
AirAsia X has also secured rights to land in China, Korea and West Asia.[25]
It is planned that future expansion of the airline will include destinations in India, the Middle East and Europe.[26] Malaysian government has reportedly given AirAsia X rights to 36 international destinations.[26]
In December 2007, AirAsia X started a chartered operation to Dhaka, Bangladesh to offer quick transportation of workers into Malaysia. The charter service is arranged by Celebrity Tours and Travels, the local agent of the company. Five weekly chartered flights are operated on the route on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.[27]
[edit] East Asia
[edit] Southeast Asia
- Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) - Main Base
[edit] Oceania
- Australia
- Gold Coast (Gold Coast Airport)
- Perth (Perth Airport) [begins November 2, 2008] [29]
[edit] Future destinations
- Amritsar
- Bahrain, Dubai, Sharjah
- Cheongju
- Moscow, Manchester
- Ibaraki[30][31],Nagoya(Centrair)[31], Fukuoka[31]
- Adelaide Airport, Newcastle Airport,[citation needed] Melbourne-Avalon, Melbourne-Tullarmarine
- Prague
- United States
[edit] Fleet
The AirAsia X fleet consists of the following aircraft as of March 2008:
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (First/XL/Economy) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A330-300 | 1 | 312 (-/36/276) | leased from AWAS for six years |
| Airbus A330-300 | (25 orders) | 392 (-/28/364) | 9 abreast in economy |
On 14 May 2007, AirAsia confirmed that it had ordered 15 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, 5 more than originally announced. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery from the fourth quarter of 2008.[32] On 27 March 2008, AirAsia signed a firm contract for another 10 Airbus A330-300s bringing the airline's total order to 25. [33]
AirAsia also announced on May 11, 2008 that it had signed a lease agreement with an unmentioned company for an Airbus A340, to be used on flights from Kuala Lumpur to London. It will receive the A340 in January of 2009, and after replacing interiors, will begin the services in March of 2009. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ AirAsia gets FIC nod for RCPS subscription
- ^ "X-citing deal for air travellers", The Star, 2007-01-06.The Airline will be operating "incredibly" cheap prices to and from Asia to the East Coast of Australia
- ^ "AirAsia X en route", smh.com, 18 September 2007.
- ^ "Cut-price airlines landing like flies", Sydney Morning Herald, 2007-05-18.
- ^ "Jetstar terminates Melbourne-Hawaii route", 2007-08-08.
- ^ "Fly from Australia to Malaysia for $A31".
- ^ "AirAsia to fly to Victoria, Queensland", News Limited, 2007-08-10.
- ^ "Branson to take 20 per cent stake in AirAsia", The Age, 2007-08-07.
- ^ Daniel Breen. "Billionaire Branson and AirAsia X move into Avalon", The Geelong Advertiser.
- ^ "Aussies offered $31 flights to Malaysia", Herald Sun.
- ^ Welcome to AirAsia.com...now everyone can fly
- ^ "A smooth debut for FAX", Daily Express, 2006-08-02.
- ^ "About FAX, FAX Told", FlyAsianXpress.com.
- ^ "Commuters express disappointment over rural air services offered by FAX", Borneo Bulletin, 2006-08-11.
- ^ Bario
- ^ "Be Sensitive To Rural People's Needs, FAX Told", Bernama, 2006-08-25.
- ^ FAX: Let Firefly take over
- ^ Rural services back to MAS
- ^ The Brunei Times
- ^ "AirAsia X Chooses Manara & Orix As New Investors", 14 February 2008.
- ^ "AFly-from-Australia-to-Malaysia-for-A31", The Age, 2007-08-10.
- ^ "New Airline to offer $99 Tickets to Malaysia", The Age, 2008-05-15.
- ^ "Low Cost Airline Makes WA Deal", The West Australian, 2008-05-15.
- ^ "AUD1,000 return flights between Australia and UK - AirAsia X plans Gold Coast-Kuala Lumpur-London", Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, 2008-03-27.
- ^ "Virgin Group Takes 20 Pct Stake In AirAsia X", Bernama.
- ^ a b "AirAsia X to order up to 15 A330-300", Luchtzak.be, 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Air Asia X Starts Carrying Bangladeshi Workers To Malaysia", Bernama.
- ^ AirAsia website
- ^ AirAsia booking system
- ^ (Japanese)茨城空港：エア・アジアＸ、就航に意欲 県と自民県連幹部、マレーシア訪問 ／茨城 - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)
- ^ a b c (Japanese)マレーシア格安航空のエア・アジアＸが日本就航 (日本経済新聞 2008年5月20日)
- ^ AirAsia confirms 15 Airbus A330-300 deal [1]
- ^ AirAsia X Orders 10 Additional Airbus A330 Aircraft [2]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Global AirAsia booking page
- AirAsia X Australia page
- AirAsia X information page
- AirAsia X fleet detail
- AirAsia X fleet age
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