flee 5 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 In its July in-flight magazine, which is also on AK flights, it had an article on Kolkata within which it stated that AK will commence KUL-CCU this Nov. At present, this route isn’t loaded on its website. Does anyone have any details yet? Now that would be an interesting route... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted July 3, 2009 Now that would be an interesting route... I'm keen - been to all top 8 largest cities in India except 'Calcutta'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sri Ramani K. 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2009 coming first, CCU. then BLR and HYD to follow. probably after another aircraft gets its ETOPS approval. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted September 28, 2009 South Asia routes was MH high yield golden routes. With AK encroachment, expect MH bottom line to take serious beating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted September 28, 2009 coming first, CCU. then BLR and HYD to follow. probably after another aircraft gets its ETOPS approval. I thought that AK is not attempting to do ETOPS with the A322 as it is too expensive. Those routes will be D7's - anything over 4 hours flying time is given to D7 (e.g. Taipei). I think Trichy is doing very well, that is why they have it twice daily now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted September 28, 2009 Kochi (Cochin) and Trivandrum are good destinations. Been to both; Kochi several times. Will return with AK. === September 28, 2009 19:22 PM AirAsia To Fly To Three New Routes In Southern India Samantha Tan Chiew Ting SEPANG, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- AirAsia, Asia's leading low cost airline, will fly to Kochi, Trivandrum and Kolkata come December, in a move to expand its network in Southern India. AsiaAsia Group's Regional Head of Commercial Kathleen Tan said AirAsia was flying now to Tiruchirappalli and would spread its wings to other destinations in Southern India this year. "Last year we were very busy working in China and we are now extentively covered in China. At present, AirAsia flies to Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Haikou, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Tianjin in China. "For the fourth quarter and next year, AirAsia will focus on building our network in India where there is huge demand," she told Bernama in an interview on Monday in conjunction with AirAsia's 48-hour sales. The two-day promotion, offers a 20 per cent discount on fares to all destinations, excluding London and Thailand, for the travel period beginning today until Nov 30. It covers all domestic and international destinations across 20 countries and over 130 routes. Elaborating on the Indian sector, Tan said AirAsia was looking at tapping destinations like Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and AirAsia's long-haul affiliate, AirAsia X, would look further at Mumbai and Delhi. She said the Tiruchirappalli sector received overwhelming response from the population in Southern India who visited Kuala Lumpur and used it as a gateway to enter Southeast Asia. On whether AsiaAsia was experiencing a dip in sales due to the economic downturn, Tan said AirAsia was not really affected due to the airline's strategic commercial initiative to encourage people to travel. "Because of the economic downturn, people are downgrading but corporate travellers still want to fly. AirAsia offered alternative solutions to get people to fly," she said. Tan said AirAsia's market was huge covering the corporate, youth, retired, labour, family and student segments, adding that travelling during an economic crisis was best because of low prices offered by hotels. "Because of our low cost model, the fares are affordable. We are changing the travel dynamics in Asia and we see more Malaysians flying now. In the past, people in East Malaysia will not come to Kuala Lumpur because of the expensive airfare," she said. Tan said the low cost carrier had opened up the flying experience as people not just travel for holidays but also for shopping or medical treatment. She said AirAsia's low cost model also boosted domestic tourism as the airline's huge network enabled more Malaysians to take short domestic holidays to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri and Tawau. "We see 2009 as a challenging year for the aviation industry. We removed fuel surcharge and administration fees because we want to keep flying at affordable prices to stimulate travel. "AirAsia today is more than just about low fares. We are selling romance, lifestyle and holiday dreams," Tan said. Asked on AirAsia's sales target for 2010, Tan said the economy was recovering and people are beginning to spend. "The worst is over, so let's see. Our bookings have been very encouraging," said Tan, adding that AirAsia was still expanding despite the challenging economy. Saying that the low cost model was more matured and gaining acceptance, Tan added that online booking was no longer an issue because people were more tech-savvy now. On AirAsia's 48-hour sales campaign, Tan said the airline rarely offered such a promotion. "The campaign will encourage people to travel because this year was a tough year due because of the H1N1 pandemic and challenging economic factors," she explained. Asked on the sales expectation, Tan said: "I would not be able to give figures, it depends on the response, but I think the response will be good. we are running into the peak travel period now and people want to start planning their holidays." During the two-day promotion, AirAsia will offer a 20 per cent discount on fares to all destinations, excluding London and Thailand, for the travel period beginning today until Nov 30. It covers all domestic and international destinations across 20 countries and over 130 routes. -- BERNAMA http://bernama.com/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=442836 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sri Ramani K. 0 Report post Posted September 28, 2009 I thought that AK is not attempting to do ETOPS with the A322 as it is too expensive. Those routes will be D7's - anything over 4 hours flying time is given to D7 (e.g. Taipei). I think Trichy is doing very well, that is why they have it twice daily now. there are already 2 A322's which are ETOPS rated. i don't think it's too expensive, based on the amount of fuel uplift. don't know if anyone else spotted AFB and AFC with the ETOPS marking just below the Malaysian flag. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted September 29, 2009 OK, looks like they have made a U-turn! I remember Tony Fernandes saying that they cannot launch more services to India because the AK fleet is not certified for ETOPS and to modify the planes would be costly. I wonder why they modified AFB and AFC instead of requesting Airbus to add ETOPS to their new deliveries? Is it cheaper to have the mods done at local MRO's? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mohd Azizul Ramli 2 Report post Posted September 30, 2009 Apart from expansion into Southern India, AirAsia (through FD) will set up a new hub in Phuket (HKT). The HKT hub will be AirAsia's 8th hub after KUL, BKI, JHB, BKK, CGK, DPS and BDO. AirAsia goes inter from Phuket Thai AirAsia is opening a second base in Phuket for international services at a time when much of the aviation industry remains in the doldrums and some airlines are making cutbacks. Thai AirAsia staff last Friday celebrate receiving the airline’s 10th brand new Airbus A320 at Suvarnabhumi Airport. As part of an aggressive growth strategy the no-frills carrier has firmed up plans to link the southern resort island with four major regional cities from November. The airline now has a single international service to and from Phuket-Singapore, and flights to Bangkok. Thai AirAsia will introduce daily flights from Phuket to Jakarta and to Hong Kong from about mid-November. Daily services to Ho Chi Minh City and Medan will start a month later, said chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld. The airline will station two A320 jetliners, each capable of carrying 180 passengers, at Phuket International Airport and will set up a crew centre and an aircraft maintenance support base there. Plans are under way for the airline to set up a third Thai hub in Chiang Mai next year to tap alternative traffic opportunities to its Bangkok base. Phuket offers promising traffic potential, especially from those who want to travel directly to and from the island, said Mr Tassapon. "There are risks involved in opening the Phuket base but they are calculated ones," he told the Bangkok Post. Having additional hubs to Bangkok increases the airline's options for keeping its passenger traffic flowing through Thailand, particularly if Bangkok encounters political troubles like the blockade of Bangkok's two airports late last year. Depending on the response to its international services through Phuket, the carrier may connect the island with cities in the Philippines and India, where it plans to establish a foothold next year. The airline brought its 10th brand new Airbus A320 jetliner into service last Friday, and is due to take delivery of the 11th in December. Thai AirAsia is due to start a new route - Bangkok-Taipei - on Friday and to begin a second daily Bangkok-Hong Kong service on the same day. The airline will next month scale back flights on some routes - Bangkok-Hanoi from twice to once daily, Bangkok-Macao from four to three times per day and Bangkok-Penang from twice to once daily - to correspond to traffic demand. About the author Writer: BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA Published: 22/09/2009 at 12:00 AM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sri Ramani K. 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2009 ah, soon minus JHB. ah, soon minus JHB plus PEN Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suadrif 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Another AK achievement by setting up new hub, seems that AK fly to everywhere nowadays. congrats AK, keep the good work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted October 8, 2009 AirAsia outlines India push AirAsia plans to launch services this year to three destinations in southern India, while its long-haul outfit AirAsia X plans to launch services next year to Mumbai and New Delhi. Daily services from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi, Kolkata and Trivandrum will begin at the end of the fourth quarter, says the Malaysian low-cost carrier. It will operate Airbus A320s on these routes. Launch dates have not been set as it is still negotiating with the authorities, but it hopes to start selling the tickets later this month, says AirAsia. Next year, it also hopes to launch services to Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. AirAsia X plans to launch services four-times weekly services to Mumbai and seven-times weekly services to New Delhi in the first half of next year. No carriers currently operate between Kuala Lumpur and Kochi, Kolkata and Trivandrum, according to Innovata. AirAsia's only service to India is on the Kuala Lumpur-Tiruchirappalli route. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted October 14, 2009 There you go! RT: @AirAsiaDotCom: U can now fly direct to Kochi, Trivandrum & Kolkata with AirAsia! Sales start tomorrow – 20 Oct! http://bit.ly/HToW7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted October 15, 2009 Saw lotsa *RM251* all-in return tix KUL to Kochi/Trivandrum/Kolkata for early 2010. Been to Kochi and Trivandrum, so very keen on Kolkata. Poison, poison, poison! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sri Ramani K. 0 Report post Posted August 17, 2010 Daily services from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi, Kolkata and Trivandrum will begin at the end of the fourth quarter, says the Malaysian low-cost carrier. It will operate Airbus A320s on these routes Just to update, TRV is now 3 times weekly only Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
