Air Asia X to operate Australian route SEP 8

[Keith T 2]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/cutprice...8995366002.html

 

Sounds like more than a rumour this time. I look forward to lower fares on QF/BA and the like to fund my mileage runs.

 

Hmm... AVV. "Fly to Melbourne for MYR0! [ps visit Geelong on the side or pay a taxi fare to downtown Melbourne for A$80...]"

 

Cut-price airlines landing like flies

 

Scott Rochfort and Nadia Jamal

May 18, 2007

 

ASIA'S largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia, has issued the biggest challenge to Jetstar's international operations to date, announcing plans to gazump the Qantas offshoot by becoming the first budget carrier to operate between Australia and Malaysia.

 

AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes said yesterday his airline's new long-haul offshoot - AirAsiaX - planned to commence services on September 8, either to Adelaide or to Melbourne's Avalon Airport. This will be one day before Jetstar is due to commence flights from Sydney to AirAsia's base of Kuala Lumpur.

 

It is expected AirAsia would then offer passengers the opportunity to fly on to its short-haul destinations throughout Asia.

 

Mr Fernandes predicted his airline would offer MYR (ringgits) 800 ($285) return fares from Australia to Kuala Lumpur on a sustained basis, easily undercutting the $990 return fares offered on the Jetstar website yesterday.

 

But given the expense of landing and parking aircraft at Sydney, Mr Fernandes said it was unlikely AirAsiaX would fly to Australia's largest airport any time soon.

 

"I would want to go to Newcastle before Sydney," Mr Fernandes told the Herald.

 

Mr Fernandes said AirAsiaX's aim to offer cheaper fares would be aided by its plans to fly to airports (or terminals) with lower costs. Avalon's landing fees are negligible compared to Melbourne Tullamarine's and, unlike Jetstar, AirAsia will use the cheaper low-cost terminal in Kuala Lumpur.

 

AirAsia's plans come on top of Viva Macau's confirmation this week that it planned to become the first Asian low-cost carrier to fly to Sydney this July. Singapore's Tiger Airways, which plans to start domestic flights out of Melbourne this year, already has international flights into Perth and Darwin.

 

Avalon Airport boss Tim Anderson said he had talked to AirAsia. "We're considering all of the options at the moment," he said. "They are complex, but we do believe that we will be able to provide all the facilities and services necessary for international activity."

 

Jetstar declined to rule out using Avalon for international flights in future.

 

Meanwhile, the Australian and International Pilots Association launched a campaign to pressure the Qantas "to commit to maintaining a world class airline and ensuring that its low-cost operation - Jetstar - does not threaten the Qantas Group's international reputation".

Edited May 18, 2007 by Keith T

[Azri M. 0]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/cutprice...8995366002.html

 

Sounds like more than a rumour this time. I look forward to lower fares on QF/BA and the like to fund my mileage runs.

 

Hmm... AVV. "Fly to Melbourne for MYR0! [ps visit Geelong on the side or pay a taxi fare to downtown Melbourne for A$80...]"

 

 

Or take Sunbus to Melbourne with AU$19!

[Yusoff 1]

I love bus. more green....

[Keith T 2]

B*s?!...