Airline Report: Air Asia X Is Born
Where: Malaysia
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary was just on CNN International commenting on the launch of Air Asia X, the new long-haul, budget airline project of Air Asia and Fly Asian Xpress. Rumors and news regarding the debut have indicated that Air Asia X will partner with Virgin and easyJet, but reports that those deals have already been solidified are premature. As for O'Leary, he doesn't think long-haul low fare airlines can work.
Execs hope to build up to a 20-plane fleet, and the first flights are planned for July. We're assuming that they're on steadier ground than, say, Virgin America, and really do expect to start flying then. Tickets between the airline's hub in Kuala Lumpur and select destinations (Tianjin and Hangzhou, China, and either Manchester or Stansted in the UK) will go on sale next month.
No dice for Americans, as there are no plans for routes into the States. For now, cheapies over here have only those Oasis Hong Kong routes into Oakland and Chicago to look forward to. Let's hope they materialize.
[Photo: AlexMoi]
Related Stories:
· New Budget Airline Debuts in Malaysia [Forbes]
· Long-haul budget airline unveiled [BBC]
· easyJet and Virgin deny AirAsia tie-up talks [Scotsman]
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