AirAsia Plans To Fly To Chengdu And Xian

[Naim 6]

April 02, 2009 15:55 PM

 

AirAsia Plans To Fly To Chengdu And Xian

 

SEPANG, April 2 (Bernama) -- Low-cost carrier AirAsia, which took off on its inaugural flight to Tianjin this morning, plans to fly to Chengdu and Xian this year as part of its expansion into China.

 

AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes said the airline will have 10 destinations to China this year, attracting over two million passengers from China, Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

 

Tianjin is the seventh route into China for AirAsia, which has been named the world's best low-cost carrier by Skytrax, the UK-based consultancy which conducts research on commercial airlines.

 

Currently, AirAsia's other routes to China include Macau, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Guilin and Haikou.

 

Located in north-east China, Tianjin is the country's sixth largest city.

 

The historic Kuala Lumpur-Tianjin flight took off at 8.30am today and touched down at the Tianjin Binhai International Airport at 2.35 pm.

 

The flight was operated by AirAsia X, the low-cost long-haul carrier affiliate of AirAsia.

 

"China is crucial in AirAsia's expansion plan towards becoming a major player in connecting Malaysia and the greater Asean region to East Asia," Fernandes said during the launch of the Kuala Lumpur-Tianjin inaugural flight today.

 

The event was witnessed by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

 

"Despite the gloomy economy, China would remain an important trading and economic partner for Malaysia and the Asean region," Ong said.

 

Fernandes said was thrilled that AirAsia was chosen as the world's best low-cost carrier as the award came earlier than he expected.

 

"We remain optimistic, we have a great first quarter. Passenger numbers are up significantly," he said.

 

Ong said the flights to Tianjin would attract more tourists from China and bring further stimulus to the local economy.

 

Efforts were also underway to explore new routes, he said.

 

"It is my job under the Transport Ministry to get more rights to liberalise the air services sector (and) India is on our radar," Ong said.

 

However, he added, it was the responsibility of industry players to ensure that flying these routes was sustainable and able to meet the needs of people.

 

-- BERNAMA

[Yusoff 1]

Xian! Nice place for spotting!...

Reminds me of Norman's trip to Xian sometime last year...

[Li Ren 2]

Can visit Jiu Zai Gou with low fares ... But need to take inland airlines from Chengdu airport to Jiu Zai Gou as it is 450km away Which inland airlines do have Chengdu-Jiu Zai Gou route??

 

 

Edited April 2, 2009 by Li Ren

[DavidC 0]

anyone know whether air asia is flying to colombo??

[Naim 6]

I hear AK will start flying Chengdu late Oct, and sale opens next week. Am looking for early 2010 trip. :-)

 

Info on Chengdu also up now: http://www.airasia.com/site/my/en/destinationCity.jsp?reference=CTU

[flee 5]

anyone know whether air asia is flying to colombo??

Daily flights to Colombo started on 15 August 2009:

 

AK 255 KUL CMB 06:30 07:30

AK 256 CMB KUL 08:30 14:30

[flee 5]

Malaysian carrier AirAsia X is launching services to Chengdu in southwest China and plans to have some of its Abu Dhabi services go onto London Stansted.

 

A five-times weekly AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur-Chengdu service will be starting on 22 October using Airbus A330s, says an AirAsia X spokesman.

 

According to Innovata no airlines currently operate on the Kuala Lumpur-Chengdu route.

 

He also says some of the Airbus A340 Kuala Lumpur-Abu Dhabi services the carrier will be launching on 23 November will go onto London Stansted.

 

AirAsia X already operates to London Stansted non-stop using A340s but the change means in future it will have a mix of non-stop and one-stop services to London Stansted.

 

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/08/24/331397/airasia-x-launching-services-to-chengdu.html

Edited August 24, 2009 by flee

[Naim 6]

I hear AK will start flying Chengdu late Oct, and sale opens next week. Am looking for early 2010 trip. :-)

 

Info on Chengdu also up now: http://www.airasia.com/site/my/en/destinationCity.jsp?reference=CTU

 

AK has also created an FB page on Chengdu: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=149903&id=18801397386

From there can go to Tibet.

 

I wonder how soon Xi'an would follow.

[Naim 6]

From AK website:

 

 

Looks like 20/10 is da day, then 5 flights/wk.

[flee 5]

Press Release: http://www.airasia.com/site/my/en/pressRelease.jsp?id=4ff05666-7f000010-933cba00-a9ce88fd

 

25 August 2009

 

AIRASIA LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHT FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO CHENGDU, CHINA

Fares from as low as RM 129 (CNY338)

 

Sepang, 25th August 2009– AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline continues to aggressively expand its China network by launching a new route connecting Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu, further strengthening its already vast network to China. The new service will be operated by AirAsia X, the low cost long-haul airline affiliate of AirAsia.

 

AirAsia is the only airline to offer direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu, which will begin on 20 October 2009 with four direct flights weekly. Attractive all-in-fares are offered from as low as RM129* (CNY338*) one-way and exclusively available online via AirAsia’s website at www.airasia.com or mobile.airasia.com. Booking period is from 26th to 30th August 2009, for travel period between 20 October 2009 and 31st July 2010.

 

Ms. Kathleen Tan, Regional Head of Commercial of AirAsia said, “AirAsia has worked hard at building and crafting a strong China route network spanning the four corners and winds of China. Amassing strongholds in the Pearl Delta of the southern region covering popular destination choices of Macau, HongKong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Guilin, Haikou and by positioning Hangzhou as our Eastern gateway into the Yangtze Delta region, and establishing Tianjin with 30 min bullet train to Beijing as the access point to the Northern belt, it would only seem natural for us to complete our conquest in all directions by casting our sights to the west.”

 

“Our China network has remained incomplete without a presence capable of unlocking the potential of travel to the western territories of China.It is in this essence that Chengdu, capital city to Sichuan province in China with its strategic location, emerged as the natural point of unlocking the Western catchments areas and thus completing our China route integration. With Chengdu now added on to our network, AirAsia can now boast that we have mainland China covered with 160 weekly flights,” she added.

 

“Currently, there is no direct air connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Chengdu and the journey of simply getting there via other means can consume a whole day’s worth of time. Home to the very living natural heritage of China’s Pandas, Chengdu has firmly positioned itself today with a more substantial façade and reputation of also being a thriving city riding the high economic and tourism growth waves. Our guests within Asean and China will now be spoilt for choice with the establishment of our strong China network in all corners and there is simply no better way to travel than with our amazing low fares. With rapid growth and aggressive expansion in these trying times, AirAsia aims to stay true to our brand promise that now everyone can fly to the four winds of China,” Kathleen said.

 

Home to more than 10 million people, Chengdu is located in southwest China at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin and is the gateway to the Unesco World Heritage Site “Jiuzhaigou”, one of the most scenic places in China. This capital city of Sichuan province is known as one of the most important economic centers and is a major transportation and communication hub in China. Historically, it has played an important role in the political, economical, cultural, and military development of southwest China. The city is regarded as the starting point of the Southern Silk Road and is the gateway to the Tibet Autonomous Region. The surrounding region is famous for its three unique characteristics: Heavenly scenery, Bashu Culture, and home of the Giant Pandas.

 

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said, “Despite the gloomy global economy, China remains an important trading and economic partner for Malaysia and the Asean region. The launch of this new route is expected to enhance the exchange of trade and tourism, and to strengthen the economic development of Kuala Lumpur and Chengdu.”

 

Azran added that, “AirAsia and AirAsia X’s low fares and innovative services will also stimulate more travel both inbound and outbound from these two destinations. The Chinese public can also take advantage of Kuala Lumpur’s status as a gateway to get across Asia, Australia and Europe.”

 

The Kuala Lumpur - Chengdu route is serviced by our Airbus A330- 300, which holds 383 economy seats including 28 Premium seats which have an impressive 60-inch seat pitch. For more details on flight times and bookings, please visit www.airasia.com or mobile.airasia.com.

 

Stay tuned! Follow AirAsia on Twitter, Facebook, and AirAsia Blog where we will provide real time updates on our latest promotion.

 

* All fares quoted are applicable for one-way travel only.

[Naim 6]

Yes, going to Chengdu in Jan 2010, at last.

 

KUL-CTU 21Jan - RM129 (all-in fare)

CTU-KUL 26Jan - RM176 (all-in fare)

 

[Pieter C. 5]

Excellent deal, Doc: a return all-in for only 60 Euros !!!

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Just booked with D7 for the first time. A question here :

 

There is an option for advanced seat selection @ RM25 (standard seat), otherwise, according to the website they will randomly pick a seat for you. If I am travelling in a family (say a group of 4) and i don't take the option, is there a possibility we might be end up not sitting together as the airline with assign the seat 'randomly' ?

[flee 5]

Just booked with D7 for the first time. A question here :

 

There is an option for advanced seat selection @ RM25 (standard seat), otherwise, according to the website they will randomly pick a seat for you. If I am travelling in a family (say a group of 4) and i don't take the option, is there a possibility we might be end up not sitting together as the airline with assign the seat 'randomly' ?

Yes, the more seats you book, the greater the likelihood that you will not be sitting together. Bear in mind that most D7 seats are in blocks of 3. One way to reduce the risk is to do a web check in early. You can check in up to 48 hours before the actual time of the flight. That way, you just need to drop off your luggage at the airport.

[Naim 6]

There is an option for advanced seat selection @ RM25 (standard seat), otherwise, according to the website they will randomly pick a seat for you. If I am travelling in a family (say a group of 4) and i don't take the option, is there a possibility we might be end up not sitting together as the airline with assign the seat 'randomly' ?

 

Yes, you could be scattered. I'm told the system randomly assigns seat, not the check-in agent.

[Naim 6]

Looking fwd to my own Chengdu trip end-Jan 2010.

 

===

 

November 23, 2009 21:02 PM

 

Tourism Minister Asks Airasia To Operate KL-Chengdu Direct Flights Daily

 

CHENGDU, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has asked AirAsia to consider daily direct flights between Chengdu and Kuala Lumpur following the good response to the four times a week direct flights between the two cities.

 

She said the low-cost carrier launched KL-Chengdu and Chengdu-KL direct flights on Oct 20 with four flights a week and the passenger load had achieved 80 per cent.

 

"I believe the tourists' flow between the two cities, visiting each other, will further increase. I hope AirAsia will operate one flight a day in the near future to allow more tourists from here to travel to Malaysia and vice-versa," she said after meeting Huang Yan Rong, the Vice-Governor of the Sichuan Province, Monday.

 

Dr Ng, who is on her working trip to China, said she was looking forward to enhance bilateral investments as well, as she saw the city had great potential for investments and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation had opened a representative office here for the same reason.

 

Currently, 17 Malaysian companies have invested in electronic manufacturing industries and the education sector here.

 

The Minister also encouraged investors here to invest in Malaysia as the economic sectors have been liberalised to allow 100 per cent foreign ownership.

 

Huang said the earthquake on May 12 last year brought great impact to the tourism industry here to the extent that tourism revenue declined by 68 per cent.

 

She, however, said the tourism industry recovered rapidly after the provincial government accelerated restoration projects here.

 

"The province's tourism revenue between January and October has touched 1.25 billion yuan, an increase of 43.4 per cent. It is even higher than in 2007 before the earthquake," she said.

 

Huang also expressed her appreciation to the Malaysian government's support and assistance extended when the tragedy occurred.

 

On tourism, she said Malaysia was one of the most popular destinations for locals here to go for vacation.

 

With the bilateral cooperation with the tourism authorities of both countries, the Kuala Lumpur-Chengdu tourism industry would further flourish, she said.

 

Huang also asked Dr Ng to forward her proposal to set up a Malaysian consulate here to enhance bilateral collaborations in the economic, trade, tourism and cultural sectors.

 

-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=457477

[liza 1]

Enjoy the trip! must be very cold then. but the spicy soup of Szechuan cooking will heat u up! but becareful, don't bit this little pepper look-a-like that would numb your mouth!

[Naim 6]

Enjoy the trip! must be very cold then. but the spicy soup of Szechuan cooking will heat u up! but becareful, don't bit this little pepper look-a-like that would numb your mouth!

 

Thanks, liza, super tip there! Anyway winter would be best for scenic spots, I'm told.

[flee 5]

The Minister talks as if it is so easy to mount daily flights! Anyway, D7 can now enquire about their Korea, Japan and Sydney routes as a return favour from the govt.