AirAsia to fly to India, China this year

Apr 17, 2017Updated Jun 9, 20251 min read

AirAsia Group has pledged to support the government’s effort to boost tourist arrivals by opening new flights to Indonesia from cities in India and China this year.

“We are ready to support the government. We will add new aircraft and open new international routes,” Air Asia Group CEO for Indonesia Dendy Kurniawan said on Monday.

The airline will add two new aircraft of the Airbus A320 and A330 types. Currently, Air Asia accounts for around 25 percent of inbound flights to Indonesia, according to Tourism Ministry data.

The route to India was expected to commence in May, while that to China was expected to commence in October, said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya.

The government eyes to welcome 15 million foreign visitors this year and 20 million in 2019.

Arief said the government saw a two million shortage in seat capacity to achieve this year’s target.

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Mei Ling Tan

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Mei Ling Tan is the Editor of Retail News Asia, where she leads the editorial team in delivering in-depth coverage of Asia’s dynamic retail landscape. With over a decade of experience in business journalism, Mei Ling is known for her sharp analysis, deep industry insights, and commitment to uncovering the stories behind Asia’s most innovative retail brands. Before joining Retail News Asia, Mei Ling held senior reporting roles at regional business publications, covering everything from consumer trends to digital transformation in retail. A graduate of the National University of Singapore with a degree in Communications and New Media, she combines journalistic integrity with a strong understanding of evolving market forces. Outside the newsroom, Mei Ling is a frequent speaker at industry panels and a mentor for young journalists.

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