AirAsia to switch medium-haul routes to AirAsia X

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes has confirmed the firm's AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur Int'l) unit will be switching out select routes to its AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur Int'l) sister carrier.

Speaking via social media, Fernades said routes that are over fours hours would be transferred to the longhaul LCC carrier "as they have matured". This would then free up more capacity for use on AirAsia's more profitable shorter haul routes, he said.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, routes that fall within the category include those from Malaysia to India, China, Taiwan, Macau, the Philippines, Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok. For its part, AirAsia X already serves diverse destinations covering Australia, Taiwan, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, China, and Indonesia using a fleet of twenty-two A330-300s.

Although the switch will mean additional growth for AirAsia X, Fernandes again rejected the notion of resuming flights to Europe stating that the carrier "does not feel the long haul market is ready".

"Not interested in Berlin, London etc," he said. "It's Firmly focussed on medium-haul routes."