SEPANG- AirAsia (AK) is continually enhancing convenient and economical air travel options between Malaysia and India, presently offering 14 routes with plans for further network expansion throughout India.
This initiative was emphasized in an exclusive roundtable discussion held in Chennai, led by AirAsia’s Chief of Airport & Customer Experience, Mr. Kesavan Sivanandam.
AirAsia Indian Flights
The event included the participation of Mr. Saravana Kumar Kumaravasagam, Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai, and Mr. Razaidi Abd. Rahim, Director of South India and Sri Lanka at Tourism Malaysia, and more than 20 media members from both countries.
Over the past six years, AirAsia’s extensive network has facilitated travel for more than 5 million passengers between India, Malaysia, and other destinations.
The recent surge in numbers is attributed to the Indian government’s announcement of visa-free entry for Indian citizens visiting Malaysia.
Executive Remarks
Bo Lingam, the Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited, expressed,
“We take pride in reiterating our unwavering commitment to democratize air travel, making it accessible to a wider audience, particularly in one of our most significant markets, India. AirAsia is dedicated to realizing everyone’s dream of flying, and our expanded connectivity to India underscores our commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that air travel is affordable for individuals from all walks of life. Over two decades ago, AirAsia embarked on the journey of pioneering low-cost travel in the region, a concept many believed was impossible at the time. Today, we fly to numerous routes in India from major hubs, and our growth continues.”
Mr. Saravana Kumar Kumaravasagam, Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai, commended AirAsia for fostering connectivity between the two nations and facilitating affordable travel.
He remarked, “AirAsia has played a crucial role in awakening the wanderlust in many, enabling travelers from both sides to explore India and Malaysia. We anticipate a further surge in travel, especially with the Malaysian government’s visa-free initiative, and hope it will pave the way for more collaborative opportunities between our two countries.”
Sivanandam mentioned, “We are currently focusing on Tier-II and Tier-III cities in India. With a current presence in 14 cities, our aim is to expand to 20 cities by the end of 2024.” The Indian market constitutes approximately 18% of the company’s revenue. AirAsia’s flights from India maintain a robust load factor of 90%, denoting the percentage of available seats occupied by passengers, an industry metric.
“We plan to commence operations in Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, and Visakhapatnam within the next three months. After launching in these cities, Patna and Calicut are the only destinations with bilateral rights. Beyond these, our options are limited at the moment,” he further explained.
Strong Presence in India
Currently, AirAsia operates direct flights from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to an impressive total of 14 cities across India.
Departing from Kuala Lumpur, the airline provides 56 weekly flights through its short-haul carrier AirAsia Malaysia (flight code AK) to cities such as Trivandrum, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Jaipur (with flights commencing on April 21, 2024), Visakhapatnam (with flights commencing on April 26, 2024), and Ahmedabad (with flights commencing on May 1, 2024).
Additionally, its medium-haul affiliate, AirAsia X Malaysia (flight code D7), offers two direct routes from New Delhi and Amritsar to Kuala Lumpur with 8 weekly flights.
Departing from Bangkok, AirAsia operates 50 weekly flights to Guwahati and Lucknow through Thai AirAsia (FD).
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