KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd is targeting to carry up to 143,000 passengers between February and December 2018 on its newly-launched KL-Jaipur direct flights.
Speaking at the launch, its chief executive officer (CEO) Benyamin Ismail said the new route will offer travel convenience and affordable option for the airline's guests.
“Before this, guests wanting to travel to Jaipur with us will have to travel to either of our existing route in India which is New Delhi, before transferring to Jaipur. If they were to fly from KL to New Delhi, it will take them five hours and 30 minutes before transferring onto a direct flight. It would also be similar traveling time from Mumbai too,” he said.
“With this new route, passengers can cut short travel time and fly direct from KL to Jaipur in only five hours and 30 minutes. We are expecting to carry between 132,000 and 143,000 passengers between February and December 2018 on this route with a frequency of four times a week.”
The KL-Jaipur direct route also follows the successful launch of Bangkok-Jaipur route in September this year, operated by its short-haul affiliate AirAsia Thailand.
AirAsia X Group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, who was also present at the event, reiterated the importance of India to the group.
“India is a very important market to us, and we will continue to expand our services to key Indian cities including the second and third tier cities especially those that lack good connectivity,” he said.
“We wish to express our greatest gratitude and appreciation to the Indian government and authorities for their tremendous support given to us and add this route into their network.”
AirAsia X’s New Delhi service which started in February 2015 had as of October this year registered a healthy average load factor of 88 per cent.
To celebrate the launch, AirAsia X is offering an all-in fares from as low as RM229 for economy seat and RM699 one way for Premium flatbed seats open for bookings on airasia.com for the travel period between February 5 and November 21 next year.