AirAsia has just announced its intention to fly low-cost on long-haul routes. Why such a decision?
We have identified a circle of high-potential routes which no longer fall within the definition of a short-haul flight of less than three hours. AirAsia X will take over this segment and offer a complementary product to our regional networks in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Which equipment and which lines?
We haven't made a decision yet, but we will certainly lease two second-hand aircraft before acquiring our own in 2008. As for the network, we're mainly planning to connect South-East Asia to China and Australia. There will also be flights to Europe, probably starting with the UK. But we are also interested in destinations such as Berlin and Beauvais...
How do you stay low-cost on long-haul flights?
We will continue to follow the low-cost model: single class, high seat density, paying in-flight services. From an operational point of view, we will continue to serve only secondary airports in major cities, and to limit the number of flights.
