The Hindu Business Line : AirAsia X begins daily direct services to Kochi

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s long-haul budget airline AirAsia X, which had started operations to Tiruchi last year, on Thursday began daily direct flights to Kochi, while two more Indian destinations will be added next week.

“We expect strong demand from customers, especially business travellers,’’ the CEO of AirAsia X, Mr Azran Osman-Rani, told reporters here on Thursday on the sidelines of the Third Kuala Lumpur International Trade Forum.

The carrier, an affiliate of AirAsia, will start flying to Thiruvananthapuram and Kolkata from next week, he said.

AirAsia’s offer of a million free seats to more than 70 destinations has received excellent response with its website registering more than 300 million hits, officials said.

The airlines will also fly to Abu Dhabi from November 23. “Business operations are on track despite the current global economic downturn which has affected the profit margin of several airlines,’’ Mr Azran said, adding the airline was hopeful of good fi nancial performance this year and continuing route expansion programme.

The AirAsia Group achieved an operating profit of $88.7 million in the first half of this year, accounting for five times higher than the same period last year. — PTI

Prev: Govt panel clears Rs 7,757-cr port projects
Next: New laws to curb street violence in Australian state

Business Line | NUS Index |

Related Topics
Accidents
Air Cargo
Airlines
Infr astructure
Interview
Mergers & Acquisitions
Modernisation
Railways
Roadways
Shipping
S oftware
Supply Chain Management
Trade & Labour Unions

Copyright copy; 2009, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line