Indo AirAsia X to launch with Melbourne flights
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Indonesia AirAsia Extra, the latest regional long-haul unit from the AirAsia group, will commence services in December, initially flying between Bali and Melbourne.
Having received its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) earlier this month, the new low-cost carrier has now confirmed that it will take off for the first time on 26 December 2014.
The inaugural route between Bali and Melbourne will be operated five times a week, departing the Indonesian resort island at 0855 on Tuesdays and Sundays and at 0005 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The return services will leave Melbourne at 1930 every Tuesday and Saturday, and at 1040 on the remaining three days.
As with AirAsia X’s other regional units in Malaysia and Thailand, the Indonesian carrier will operate a fleet of 377-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft, featuring flat-bed seats in business class.
The new route and launch date were revealed in a ceremony in Jakarta, attended by Indonesia AirAsia Extra’s CEO, Soeratman Doerachman, and Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of the original AirAsia X.
“We are super excited with the official launch of Indonesia AirAsia Extra today,” said Osman-Rani. “Our strategy of focusing and dominating our core markets in North Asia and Australia moves to a higher level with our regional expansion in Thailand previously and now Indonesia. Our investment in neighbouring hubs where established short haul feeder networks are in place, allows us to triple our size without even adding a new market.
“Foreign tourist arrivals into Bali increased more than 13% last year compared to the previous year with Australian being the highest contributor with more than 25%. We are confident this route will grow even further with our low fares,” he added.
Indonesia AirAsia Extra becomes the second long-haul subsidiary launched by AirAsia this year, following the Thai AirAsia X, which commenced operations in June 2014.
AirAsia now operates eight separate short- and long-haul units across five countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and the Philippines – and plans to re-enter Japan in 2015.
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