KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia reaffirms Kota Kinabalu as its second-largest hub in Malaysia with the launch of its new route connecting Kota Kinabalu to Seoul (Incheon), South Korea today.
With the addition of Seoul, AirAsia Malaysia will fly a total of 18 routes, with 282 flights weekly from and to Kota Kinabalu effective March next year.
The new route will commence operations on March 4 with daily frequencies, making it even easier for passengers to discover both cities' intriguing cultural attractions, scenic beauty, and culinary delights at low rates.
The announcement comes on the heels of an impressive surge in South Korean tourists visiting Sabah.
According to recent data, over 150,000 South Korean tourists are expected to visit Sabah this year, indicating a considerable increase in the number of Korean visitors to the state.
Furthermore, Koreans are now among Sabah's most frequent visitors, demonstrating their rising interest in the state's natural beauty and distinct cultural experiences.
AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer Riad Asmat said the company is thrilled to be the first Malaysian airline to connect Kota Kinabalu directly to Seoul.
"With this expansion, AirAsia further cements Kota Kinabalu as our second largest hub in Malaysia with nine domestic and nine international destinations, boosting the city's status as a vibrant aviation hub," he said.
The route launch is also poised to contribute significantly to the growth of tourism and trade in Kota Kinabalu.
As part of the route's debut, AirAsia is providing special promotional rates from Kota Kinabalu to Seoul, with all-in flights starting at RM349 one-way.