An AirAsia X Airbus A330-300. (Image: Airbus)
With ultra-low-cost airlines like Norwegian and Iceland’s Wow wreaking havoc on transatlantic air fare competition, a similar battle could be coming to transpacific markets.
Malaysia-based AirAsia X said this week it has won a green light from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly to the U.S. – “the first Asian low-cost carrier to secure approval to operate scheduled passenger flights to the U.S.,” the company said.
However, the airline’s announcement did not include any specific destinations for the new service, nor did it suggest what kinds of fares it might charge. Like other low-cost carriers, AirAsia X offsets its bargain base fares with a variety of extra passenger fees for various amenities and services.
AirAsia X said it is “currently considering flights to several U.S. states including Hawaii as part of its route expansion plans.”
The carrier’s CEO, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, called the decision “a major milestone” for AirAsia X. He added that the airline has also applied to U.K authorities to resume service to London.
AirAsia’s network covers 120 destinations. (Image: Air Asia)
AirAsia Group flies from its Kuala Lumpur base to more than 120 destinations in the Asia Pacific region, and it offers customers a mobile app, in-flight Wi-Fi, and an easy connecting service it calls Fly-Thru.
“Fly-Thru allows guests to seamlessly connect to anywhere within AirAsia’s wide network with just one stop at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Asia’s No. 1 low-cost carrier hub – and other convenient transit hubs in Thailand and Indonesia, without having to pass through immigration, and with their baggage checked through to the final destination,” AirAsia X said.
AirAsia X uses an all-Airbus wide-body fleet of A330 -300s, configured with 12 Premium Class flat-bed seats, and 365 economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout. Seatguru.com notes that the AirAsia X A330-300s have eight economy rows right behind the Premium cabin designated as a “quiet zone,” which cost extra. Why are those rows quiet? No kids under age 12 can sit there.
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RichLL says
January 27, 2017 at 6:52 amThere is enough money in Asia now for these services to not be reliant upon US customers. Cheap, densely-configured lights to Hawaii, California and Vegas would be very popular with Asians.
But even if few Americans fly with them, it will still down the price, which is in everyone’s interests
Rupert says
January 26, 2017 at 8:43 pmAgreed – low fares arrived with Chinese carriers years ago – whether you want to fly them is a different story. I actually think that the AirAsiaX PremiumSeat could be a bargain on that route!
All the AirAsia X hubs in KUL, BKK and Indonesia are poorly placed for transpacific flights and they don’t have the planes to fly non-stop (other than Honolulu)… this is mostly interesting for residents of SE Asia.
Cebu Pacific might beat AirAsia to be the first Asian “low-cost carrier” to the US – they have been “planning” flights to HNL since last year and can reach it non-stop from Manila!
mogando says
January 26, 2017 at 8:04 am2 things about this :
1) unrealistic pricing models by mainland Chinese carriers are already providing lots of *de facto* low cost competition across the pacific, even though most of them are still offered by carriers belonging to one of the 3 alliances
2) KUL is an awfully placed TPAC hub for most of East Asia’s population to take advantage of other than a MAJOR backtrack. You wanna save $150 flying PVG-KUL-HNL ? Good for you.