Malaysian Air Asia X takes to the skies in July

If the high cost of travel to Asia is putting you off travelling there you may have to think again as cheap flights to Asia become reality with the start of low cost flights to Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. Newly branded AirAsia X, part of leading budget carrier AirAsia which currently operates around 200 daily no frills flights to 48 destinations throughout Asia, will be offering direct flights from the UK to Asia beginning in July this year. Using a streamlined online ticketing system via the Air Asia branded website to keep prices low, from February onwards, passengers can book flights starting from as little as £100 for a roundtrip flight with an option to pay extra for increased legroom.

The launch comes on the back of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines inauguration in October 2006, which brought cut-price Far East air travel to the UK with fares from £75 (excluding taxes) for a one-way flight from London Gatwick to Hong Kong. Low cost premium air travel is now on their agenda as they charter business Oasis, an affordable approach to business class air travel.

Most people view Asia as a long haul destination, faraway, somewhere reserved for that extra special holiday or trip of a lifetime. The advent of new carrier’s such as AirAsia X offering flight prices around half those charged by full service airlines, offers the long-haul low-cost traveller a greater choice of service for their travel requirements and gives them greater independence. Low fares attract volume and would pave the way for Asia to strengthen its appeal as a mainstream holiday destination which in turn may create locations that become magnets for overseas property investment. Having used Air Asia myself for cheap travel between Thailand and Kuala Lumpur during my property tour, it is clear that low cost travel into the region, will only serve to boost interest from foreign investors who are already buying into Asian property as shown by the opportunity to buy into Malaysian real estate projects such as the I-Zen development.

From its low–cost terminal at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA) AirAsia X is expected to fly to London Stansted and Manchester in addition to launching a series of daily point-to-point routes to popular destinations in China (Tianjing and Hangzhou), India (Amritsar), Europe (Milan and Berlin), Australia and importantly the Middle East (Abu Dhabi). With an eventual plan to cover routes to West Asia, South America and the United States.

UPDATE:

According to BBC news, those of you keen to book the new Asia X service may have to wait until August 2008. Air Asia X have put the service on hold due to problems leasing the right planes at the right price which points to a lack of planning on the part of Asia X. As overall demand for increased air travel and therefore more planes has pushed up aircraft prices, low cost airlines starting are finding it hard to absorb these higher operating costs in addition to competing with big orders from the larger industry players.