Air Asia X :- On the USA's radar

AirAsia can easily fly to New York
Wednesday December 9, 2009

NEW YORK: AirAsia has set its sights on the US market.

Aviation experts here said AirAsia could easily fill the vacuum left by national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS), which recently discontinued flights to the east coast and closed its office in the Big Apple.

MAS however, still maintains its operations on the west coast, with flights to Los Angeles.

Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia chief executive, told Bernama here recently that he was ”working” towards establishing a regular service to the east coast.

“We are very keen to enter the US market which has good business potential,” he said adding that he hoped to start flights to an east coast airport, either New York or New Jersey, in 2010.

Since MAS stopped its service to the east coast, Malaysia lost an important connectivity with that part of the world.

“There are many foreign national carriers, which despite losses, maintain operations to this important international service point. “It is that proverbial pennywise-pound-foolish decision that is likely to haunt MAS because by withdrawing it will find it extremely difficult to come back and re-establish its position,” said a New York-based aviation expert who wished to remain anonymous.

Fernandes also discussed plans for the acquisition of new aircraft.

“Over the next 24 months, we will be having 32 aircraft of the A-320 type, most of which is to be used for India and China. We have 120 routes which will be increased. Air Asia X will have six aircraft of the A-330 type, mainly for Sydney, Jeddah, Seoul and cities in India,” he said.

According to Fernandes, the airline also plans to start services to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Hawaii.However, things need to be sorted out first at the government-to-government level. The New York service will be an extension of AirAsia’s service from London’s Stansted airport.

Fernandes described the US market as “very good”. “There are many students here. I am confident many Americans will also use AirAsia to visit Asia and Europe. They can also get connectivity to Australia,” he said.

He said the airline also planned to change and improve the seating configuration for the long-haul sectors.— Bernama

Cheers Hiflyer
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