AirAsia ready for border reopening, expects 250 international flights weekly by end-April
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AirAsia is expecting an increase of more than 70 international flight volumes per week for the first week of border reopening starting on April 1.
AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer Riad Asmat said the international flight number is expected to reach 250 weekly by the end of April.
“AirAsia welcomes the announcement by the Malaysian government to fully open international borders on April 1, we are ready.
“I believe the seamlessness of travel will happen sooner than later,” he told reporters in a media briefing on the airline’s preparation for border reopening here today.
He said since resuming its operations with travel bubbles and a focus on domestic services, the gradual resumption of international flying is already well underway in tandem with borders gradually reopening around the world.
With the continued easing of travel restrictions, the airline group has increased its domestic flight capacity by 156 percent since October 2021 kickstarted with the Langkawi travel bubble, and by 50 percent for international flights since the announcement of borders reopening in April is made by the government on March 8, 2022.
A total of 75 aircraft are operating currently group-wide, he said. This is also supported by the reopening of other countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam, said Riad.
While the airline currently has a number of international services already operating, the announcement of the nation’s reopening will provide a welcome boost to support additional capacity in many of its core international markets in line with significant pent-up demand.
“I believe the seamlessness of travel will happen sooner than later,”
Meanwhile, AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd chief executive officer Bo Lingam said the airlines earnings is expected to go back to pre-Covid level presumably by the end of the year with the hope that the fuel price goes down by then.
“AirAsia applauds the governments around the region for their decision to reopen borders and remove travel restriction with minimal testing requirements.
“We are thrilled to be resuming more flights in all of our core markets in Malaysia, Thailand, the international destinations including Bali, Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Phuket, and more, starting in April.
Domestic flying also continues to soar across the group with four new domestic routes launched in Malaysia, from Kuching to Langkawi, Penang to Sibu, Johor Bahru to Bintulu, and Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Terengganu this year, he said.
“Regionally, we have seen similarly encouraging developments for domestic and international services in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. We will continue to review our network which evolves based on a number of factors including demand,” he said.
He added that new services will be announced in due course as the world continues to gradually reopen.
“While our domestic services across the group have grown by 156 per cent in recent months due to significant consumer demand, and by 50 per cent for international, we expect to return to 100 percent or more of pre-COVID domestic and international flying by the end of this year,” he said.
Questions & Answers
Q.How many international flights does AirAsia expect to operate weekly by the end of April?
How many international flights does AirAsia expect to operate weekly by the end of April?
AirAsia expects the number of international flights to reach 250 weekly by the end of April. This follows an expected increase of over 70 international flight volumes per week in the first week of border reopening.
Q.When does AirAsia anticipate its earnings will return to pre-Covid levels?
When does AirAsia anticipate its earnings will return to pre-Covid levels?
AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd chief executive officer Bo Lingam expects the airline's earnings to return to pre-Covid levels presumably by the end of this year, provided fuel prices decrease by then.
Q.Which international destinations will AirAsia resume flights to starting in April?
Which international destinations will AirAsia resume flights to starting in April?
AirAsia will resume more flights to international destinations including Bali, Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phuket starting in April. This is in addition to services in Malaysia and Thailand.
Q.By how much has AirAsia increased its domestic flight capacity since October 2021?
By how much has AirAsia increased its domestic flight capacity since October 2021?
Since October 2021, when the Langkawi travel bubble began, AirAsia has increased its domestic flight capacity by 156 percent. International flight capacity has grown by 50 percent since the border reopening announcement.
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