flee 5 Report post Posted August 21, 2010 AirAsia today will resume flights between Hat Yai and Kuala Lumpur in a pre-emptive move that may prompt rival Firefly to rethink its plan to link the two cities towards the end of this month. AirAsia, Southeast Asia's largest low-cost carrier headquartered in Malaysia, will become the second carrier, after the Singapore-based budget airline Tiger Airways, to operate out of the southern Thai city. AirAsia will offer a daily flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, to Hat Yai International Airport, on an Airbus single-aisle jet, the A320, capable of seating 180 passengers. It marks the return of AirAsia to Hat Yai after a few years of suspension as traffic demand to the Thai city famous for its entertainment and shopping, especially among Malaysians and Singaporeans, slumped due to security concerns and insurgent attacks in southern Thailand. Suk Puangthum, general manager of Hat Yai airport, said the comeback of AirAsia would help to enhance tourist flows from Thailand's southern neighbouring countries and driving growth in the city's tourism industry after a lull. But AirAsia's return to Hat Yai could lead Firefly, a "community" airline wholly owned by Malaysian Airlines, to reconsider its plan to offer certain numbers of weekly scheduled flights from Subang, the former international air hub near the Malaysian capital, to Hat Yai. Firefly has already received regulatory permission to operate the Subang-Hat Yai route with ATR72-500s, the European-made turboprop aircraft capable of carrying 72 passengers, according to an industry source. By operating a larger capacity jet and offering more frequencies, cut-throat fares and connections with its extensive network throughout Southeast Asia, AirAsia has a competitive edge against Firefly on the Kuala Lumpur-Hat Yai route. Firefly operates two routes to Thailand - a daily service from Subang to Koh Samui, and from Penang to Phuket, using its all-ATR72-500-fleet, currently numbering seven. Hat Yai airport restored direct air links with the outside world last November when the budget carrier Tiger Airways started flying again after a two-year break triggered by the troubles in southern Thailand. Tiger is operating a daily A320 flight between Singapore and Hat Yai. Hat Yai airport is served by four Thai carriers - Thai Airways International, Nok Airlines, Thai AirAsia (49% owned by AirAsia) and One-Two-Go - with connections to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/191765/airasia-revives-its-kl-hat-yai-schedule Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
