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AirAsia X Invited To Operate In Africa

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June 06, 2007 21:38 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- Fly Asian Xpress Sdn Bhd (FAX) has been invited to operate long-haul budget carrier services, AirAsia X, in Africa.

 

Disclosing this today, AirAsia Bhd's group chief executive officer and director of FAX Datuk Tony Fernandes said several African parties had expressed their interest in low-cost carrier services, namely AirAsia X.

 

AirAsia X, which is expected to start operations in September, is a franchise of AirAsia that is to be operated by FAX.

 

Fernandes said AirAsia was currently evaluating and going "around the world" to visit airports and tourism authorities to get support for the low cost carrier.

 

"We have got encouraging response from the Middle East, Korea, Japan and China. Europe has been phenomenal in their response," he told reporters here today.

 

Earlier, Fernandes presented a paper entitled "The Rise of Low Cost Carriers in Transforming International Travel" at the three-day World Tourism Conference 2007, which ended here today.

 

To a question whether AirAsia X will be flying to Sydney, Australia, he said Sydney is not in their plan but it is looking at an airport known as New Castle Airport, which is two hours away from Sydney.

 

"We don't mind flying into an airport that is two hours away provided it is cheaper. We are appealing to the leisure market not the business market," he said.

 

Earlier in his presentation, Fernandes said AirAsia will be flying into new destinations such as Shenzen, Ho Chi Minh City, Acheh and Laos soon.

 

"For Shenzen, we are going through the final application and hope to be selling in the next two or three weeks but for Ho Chi Minh City, we are still waiting for rights approval. Hopefully, we can obtain it soon," he said.

 

Sharing the AirAsia success story, Fernandes said the airline has created the Asean brand through joint venture in Indonesia and Thailand.

 

"We want to grow and be known as Asean brand," he said.

 

Fernandes said 75 percent of its ticketing business is done through Internet and that it has received tremendous response from the public after it introduced Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese language versions in its website.

 

He added that the internet sales has grown up to 50 percent.

 

-- BERNAMA

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You see ... The Big Hype has started ... they want to get floated on the stock market in 3 yrs, remember. That's a short time, so no time to lose! :pardon:

 

+++

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When they say Africa, I assume Cairo as the top candidate......

Edited by Seth K

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Egypt would be nice. Tourists, businessmen / women and students from Africa are a welcome crowd.

 

But please, no 'black money' scammers and narcotic mules.

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Fernandes Yes to AirAsia flights to Africa

Published: 2011/06/18

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has suggested that low-cost airlines such as AirAsia seriously look to flying to Africa to facilitate travel and increase trade and investment linkages.

 

He said that currently, the lack of such connectivity was a deterrent to enhancing ties between Malaysia and African nations, although the continent possessed a vast economic potential that remains largely untapped.

 

In an immediate response to Dr Mahathir’s call at the Malaysia-Africa Business Forum Saturday morning, AirAsia’s chief Tan Sri Tony Fernandes told Bernama that this was possible.

 

"Azran (Osman Rani, Airasia X's chief executive) and the team are looking at Egypt and also Luanda (Angola) and Nairobi (Kenya),” he said via SMS. -- Bernama

 

 

 

 

 

Read more: Fernandes Yes to AirAsia flights to Africa http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/20110618123414/Article/#ixzz1PeGd93o1

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Yes, obviously more flight routes will be the ideal condition for an expanding airline. We just hope that we are attracting the right kind of tourist and businessmen into the country that truly the enjoyed the country's forgiven environment as it is and not to spread its society's ills over here.

This coming from the point where many Africans have been caught in numerous illegal activities ranging from internet scams to drug related ills.

 

I agreed with Tun Mahathir on his view to expand the economy through small industries players which have bigger masses than a fewer big industry players.

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hmm... i can see more african criminals coming to malaysia should this be materialized

 

Just provide a US-stle Visa application procedure and you'll easily weed out the criminals from those we are actually interested in attracting.

 

Visa on arrival...hmm.

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I don't agree with this "introducing more african routes could lead more criminal..." thing. This is such a bias and discrimination.

 

It's more or less like USA accusing of introducing more middle east routes could lead more terrorism in their nation.

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Kong: AirAsia welcome to start Africa service

 

 

PETALING JAYA: The Transport Ministry will welcome any move by AirAsia to fly to Africa.

 

Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said connectivity was important to bring in visitors from more countries.

 

“I hope (AirAsia group chief executive officer) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes will agree to this,” Kong said in an interview from Paris.

 

A report yesterday quoted former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggesting that the airline should consider Africa as its next major destination.

 

Kong noted that there were several routes available to Africa – Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Sudan.

 

His four-day official visit to Paris covers matters on aviation, maritime, land transport and road safety.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/20/nation/8934309&sec=nation

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I don't agree with this "introducing more african routes could lead more criminal..." thing. This is such a bias and discrimination.

 

It's more or less like USA accusing of introducing more middle east routes could lead more terrorism in their nation.

whether you agree or not, it is a fact.

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AirAsia X set to fly to Africa

 

SEPANG: AirAsia X has taken steps to make Africa its next major destination, said AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

 

“Our team has just come back from South Africa, Egypt and Morocco. We are currently studying new routes, landing rights and potential markets that we are about to venture into,” he said after launching the AirAsia-CAE (Canadian Aviation Electronics) Asian Aviation Academy here yesterday.

 

He said AirAsia X flights to Africa would be focused on destinations in the central and southern part of the continent.

 

“We see a lot of potential in Kenya and Somalia. We will definitely fly there (African continent) at some stage. AirAsia is always looking for new market opportunities and this includes other parts of the world as well,” he said.

 

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had suggested that the low-cost airline should consider Africa as its next major destination.

 

He had said during the Langkawi International Dialogue 2011 that the airline could either fly there on its own or join forces with African airlines to provide services between Kuala Lumpur and cities in the continent.

 

On the Asian Aviation Academy, Fernandes said the RM200mil joint venture between AirAsia and CAE was aimed at training pilots, cabin crew, maintenance workers and ground personnel for airlines in the Asean region.

 

“We are planning to train some 12,000 pilots a year and we forecast that the number of trainees will grow exponentially.

 

“Pilot training programmes will be available from July 1 while non-pilot training programmes will commence on Oct 1,” he said, adding that it also accepted trainees from other airlines.

 

CAE group president Jeff Roberts said the training centre would include six CAE-built full-flight simulators, including four for the Airbus A320 and one each for the A330/340 and Boeing 737 Classic.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/21/nation/8938346&sec=nation

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Yeaaahh ....... Lets import more 'GAGAK' here ...... we are in dire need of them and still have not had enough .......... :yahoo:

 

Certainly our economy will collapse just like Greece and Iceland without the 'GAGAKS' to stimulate and invest in our country ........ :good:

 

 

:hi:

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At the same times, please seriously look to improve our immigration security at our LCCT to avoid any numerous illegal activities such as "Black Money, Drugs" bring to lovely Malaysia.

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Do i somehow sense some alleged parties trying to make AirAsia focus on Africa to take their mind off highly sought after routes like SYD?

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I believe its a wrong move to fly to Africa. Joburg or Cape Town is ok. Sometimes we have to put our national interest above the commercial benefits.

 

Tony bro, "DONT FLY THERE! YOU CAN STILL MAKE MONEY ELSEWHERE. FLY MORE TO EUROPE!

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AirAsia X set to fly to Africa

 

SEPANG: AirAsia X has taken steps to make Africa its next major destination, said AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.

 

“Our team has just come back from South Africa, Egypt and Morocco. We are currently studying new routes, landing rights and potential markets that we are about to venture into,” he said after launching the AirAsia-CAE (Canadian Aviation Electronics) Asian Aviation Academy here yesterday.

 

He said AirAsia X flights to Africa would be focused on destinations in the central and southern part of the continent.

 

“We see a lot of potential in Kenya and Somalia. We will definitely fly there (African continent) at some stage. AirAsia is always looking for new market opportunities and this includes other parts of the world as well,” he said.

 

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had suggested that the low-cost airline should consider Africa as its next major destination.

 

He had said during the Langkawi International Dialogue 2011 that the airline could either fly there on its own or join forces with African airlines to provide services between Kuala Lumpur and cities in the continent.

 

On the Asian Aviation Academy, Fernandes said the RM200mil joint venture between AirAsia and CAE was aimed at training pilots, cabin crew, maintenance workers and ground personnel for airlines in the Asean region.

 

“We are planning to train some 12,000 pilots a year and we forecast that the number of trainees will grow exponentially.

 

“Pilot training programmes will be available from July 1 while non-pilot training programmes will commence on Oct 1,” he said, adding that it also accepted trainees from other airlines.

 

CAE group president Jeff Roberts said the training centre would include six CAE-built full-flight simulators, including four for the Airbus A320 and one each for the A330/340 and Boeing 737 Classic.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/21/nation/8938346&sec=nation

 

 

SOMALIA???????????? :clapping:

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SOMALIA???????????? :clapping:

 

He was misquoted by the papers as usual. Was at the press conference, and Tony specifically said Kenya and Angola IIRC

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“We see a lot of potential in Kenya and Somalia. We will definitely fly there (African continent) at some stage. AirAsia is always looking for new market opportunities and this includes other parts of the world as well,” he said.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/21/nation/8938346&sec=nation

 

Pretty sure MH was asked previously and MH stood it ground as it was not economical viable. Given TF can’t offend politicians, he is likely only giving lips service.

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