| Airline | AirAsia XPenerbangan AirAsia X全亞洲航空எயர் ஏசியா X |
|---|---|
| Logo | Aax.png |
| Logo size | 200 |
| Fleet size | 11 (+26 orders) |
| Destinations | 13 |
| Iata | D7 |
| Icao | XAX |
| Callsign | XANADU |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Sepang, Selangor |
| Hubs | Kuala Lumpur International Airport |
| Company slogan | Now Everyone Can Fly Xtra Long |
| Website | www.airasia.com |
AirAsia X is a long-haul, budget airline based in Malaysia. The airline is operated by AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd. (previously known as FlyAsianXpress Sdn. Bhd.). It commenced operations on 2 November 2007. Its first service flew from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to Gold Coast Airport in Australia. AirAsia X flies to destinations within Asia, as well as destinations in Oceania and Europe. The airline operates a fleet of 11 aircraft and has placed orders for more.
AirAsia X operates as a franchise of the brand AirAsia, which is Asia's largest low-cost carrier. The franchise is able to keep costs down by using a common ticketing system, aircraft livery, employee uniforms, and management style. AirAsia X is also affiliated with Virgin Group and Air Canada.
Several major developments were announced on 10 August 2007. AirAsia X announced its first route from Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast. One way fares for this route have been touted to begin at MYR 50 (A$17) excluding taxes and charges, with average return prices to be approximately MYR1,800 (A$598), inclusive of taxes and charges.
The airline also announced that Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group, will take a 20% share in the airline to help kick-start its long haul operations and to finance its aircraft purchases. Branson also forecast a strong possibility of future, formal links between Virgin Blue and AirAsia X, including codeshare agreements and Loyalty programs.
The first AirAsia X aircraft arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on 15 September 2007. It was named "Semangat Sir Freddie" (English: "Spirit of Sir Freddie") after the pioneer and founder of the low cost model; the late, Sir Freddie Laker of Skytrain.
FAX was privately owned by Kamarudin Meranun, Raja Razali, Raja Azmi and Tony Fernandes. The airline was subcontracted by AirAsia to operate several domestic services following the withdrawal of Malaysia Airlines from rural air service routes within East Malaysia. Its maiden flight was on 1 August 2006, despite being delayed for 50 minutes by bad weather. FAX was not a low cost carrier, but it incorporated some of AirAsia’s practices in order to reduce cost. Namely; internet and phone bookings, as well as ticketless check-in systems.
Within days of operation it was subject to a flood of criticisms from commuters, civil servants, and people working in the tourism industry. Critics argued that the new turboprop service provided by FAX should not be more expensive than the rural air service previously operated by Malaysia Airlines, as FAX was subsidised by the Malaysian Government. As well as cost, the airline was criticized for poor service, such as sudden flight cancellations without notice. The CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board also stated that disruptions to cargo supply flights to the interior, caused tourists to take their own food rations, rather than rely upon the air cargo supplies of food and fuel. FAX released a new flight timetable citing the sudden need for heavy maintenance on its Fokker 50 fleet as the trigger for severe disruption to its schedules.
on board AirAsia X aircraft.]] On 11 April 2007, Tony Fernandes, CEO of the parent company of FAX (AirAsia), publicized details of a handover offer of FAX's rural routes, to Firefly, a subsidiary airline of Malaysia Airlines. He described it as "the logical thing to do", as Firefly can be the only national company operating turboprop aircraft. On 26 April 2007, the government announced Malaysia Airlines would take over the operation of rural air services from FAX, and gave assurance that any financial loss will be born by the government. Malaysia Airlines announced the take over of FAX destinations beginning on 1 October 2007. Malaysia Airlines would operate these routes through a new subsidiary, MASwings.
With FAX rural air services replaced by MASwings, the corporate name was changed from FlyAsianXpress Sdn. Bhd. to AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd. with this, the airlines focus switched to a new market. Namely, low cost, long haul flights.
As of 14 February 2008, 48% of AirAsia X is owned by Aero Ventures; a venture of Tony Fernandes and other prominent Malaysians. As well as, Air Canada's Robert Milton. Virgin Group own 16% and a further 16% is owned by AirAsia. Bahrain-based Manara Consortium, and Japan-based Orix Corp have taken a 20% stake in AirAsia X for RM250 million.
AirAsia X fears that the new Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) may not be ready by 2011, currently there is no sign of any construction work taking place on the new LCCT project. The existing LCCT will not be able to cope with future demand, due to insufficient parking bays. AirAsia X is poised to take delivery of 12 more Airbus A330s by 2011. If these fears are realised, it will be another blow to AirAsia and AirAsia X's expansion plans. The news came days after the Malaysian Government denied AirAsia X the rights to fly into Sydney. The airline ended services to Abu Dhabi due to "commercial reasons" on 21 February 2010.
There are also plans to fly to Xi'an, Wuhan and Shenyang in the People's Republic of China. The airline has also applied to fly to New York City. Air Asia X commenced a service of 4 weekly flights to Paris-Orly Airport, from 14 February 2011. There are also plans to fly to Jeddah and Sydney due to increasing customer demand. In October 2010 AirAsia X announced 4 new weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch in New Zealand. The first flight to Christchurch landed on 1 April 2011, with the airline pledging that a percentage of ticket sales to and from the city would go towards restoring the city's iconic heritage buildings that were heavily damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
On 14 May 2007, AirAsia confirmed that it had ordered 15 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, 5 more than originally announced. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery from the fourth quarter of 2008. On 27 March 2008, AirAsia signed a firm contract for another 10 Airbus A330-300s bringing the airline's total order to 25. AirAsia X received its first A330 on 31 October 2008 in Toulouse, France.
Category:Low-cost airlines Category:AirAsia Category:Airlines of Malaysia Category:Airlines established in 2007
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