Budget airline to fly into Adelaide

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

South Australian tourism have just anoounced this:

 

AirAsia X will join South Australia’s airline market as the only low-cost long-haul carrier after announcing a direct Kuala Lumpur to Adelaide route to begin in October this year.

Premier Jay Weatherill said the introduction of AirAsia X would make Adelaide an affordable destination for people and tourists from South East Asia, China and India.

“We have been working hard to attract a low-cost international carrier and AirAsia X is a very welcome addition,” Mr Weatherill said.

“These low-cost flights - five times a week from the end of November – will make South Australia a more affordable and appealing destination to tourists in our key Asian markets.”

“AirAsia X’s links into China will also help us capitalise on our fastest growing international market.”

“With more affordable international links, we also hope to see more conferences in Adelaide and more international students being visited by family and friends.

“SA will now exceed its 2020 target for international airline seats into Adelaide. From November, we will welcome more than 12,200 international airline seats each week, well above the 11,500 target.”

Tourism Minister Leon Bignell says economic modeling by the South Australian Tourism Commission suggests the new airline will create more than $30 million of local economic activity a year and create more than 170 jobs.

He said the State Government will set up a cooperative marketing agreement with the airline which will see South Australia’s wildlife, food and wine and shopping experiences promoted throughout Malaysia.

“Through this low cost carrier we will be targeting new markets with deals designed to drive volume sales and larger numbers of visitors to our State,” Mr Bignell said.

“AirAsia X has a strong track record of significantly increasing consumer demand for destinations when they enter a new market.

“We have a strong aviation strategy and our partnership with Adelaide Airport is paying dividends with two new international airlines secured within two years. It’s an exciting time of growth for our international tourism potential.”

AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani has been taking in South Australia’s attractions over the past few days and says securing the Adelaide route had been a priority for the airline.

"Our goal since launching our first Australian service on the Gold Coast in 2007 was to operate in the five major mainland states, and we are proud to have accomplished this within six years,” Mr Osman-Rani said.

"We are very excited to finally touch down in South Australia and bring some much needed competition to the skies.

"South Australia has a lot of diverse experiences to offer and has long been waited for on our network."

Adelaide Airport Ltd Managing Director Mark Young welcomed today’s announcement by AirAsia X and said it would be the first international, low-cost carrier to fly to and from Adelaide.

“The arrival of AirAsia X will make international travel more accessible for South Australian travellers, as well as attracting overseas visitors to Adelaide,” Mr Young said.

“We’ve been talking to AirAsia X since they first started looking to the Australian market in 2007, so it’s great to see those discussions coming to fruition.

“Adelaide Airport has been the fastest growing international capital city airport in Australia over the past year, and today’s announcement will provide a further boost to our expanding list of international services.”

AirAsia X is part of the AirAsia group of airlines based in Kuala Lumpur and carries 16 million passengers each year to over 80 destinations. AirAsia X already flies to Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Perth and Sydney while Air Asia flies into Darwin.

[Diane]

I was looking at that yesterday - now can someone suggest a good snorkelling/diving resort to stay at from flying into KL please?

[aliogilvie]

Really glad to see this has come to fruition, we love Air Asia and have had some bargains with them in the past - $99 KL to Perth and $150 Sydney to KL. Brilliant news.

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

We have a close friend in Hong Kong who we havn't seen for years...if the price is right!!

[AussieRob]

I was looking at that yesterday - now can someone suggest a good snorkelling/diving resort to stay at from flying into KL please?

 

Not sure about diving and snorkeling, but this resort does look fantastic.

 

http://www.goldenpalmtree.com/v2/

[Blossom]

How exciting!

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

We've booked!....off in November with a couple of friends for a 5 night city break! $$900 for the 4 of us including taxes and baggage!

 

beware you will pay for any of their "extras" ie hold baggage from about $20, inflight meals, inflight entertainment, choosing seats, and pay with paypal because it was going to cost $60+ to pay with a credit card!

 

SOOO excited!

[Blossom]

We've booked!....off in November with a couple of friends for a 5 night city break! $$900 for the 4 of us including taxes and baggage!

 

beware you will pay for any of their "extras" ie hold baggage from about $20, inflight meals, inflight entertainment, choosing seats, and pay with paypal because it was going to cost $60+ to pay with a credit card!

 

SOOO excited!

Cool, where are you going?

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

ooh! Sorry i forgot that in my excitement!

 

We are going to Kuala Lumpur!

[Keith & Linda]

Your plane is ready for take off claire-n-tel

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Your plane is ready for take off claire-n-tel[ATTACH=CONFIG]6644[/ATTACH]

 

Hey we flew on that one in India!

[Guest Shanners]

Just booked flights to Langkawi. Beautiful island off Malaysia

 

Chris

[Blossom]

Ohhhh, I'm going to have to have a good look later. I did once consider using them to fly to the uk. It would have been a lot of stops from Adelaide though.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Ohhhh, I'm going to have to have a good look later. I did once consider using them to fly to the uk. It would have been a lot of stops from Adelaide though.

 

They don't go to the UK anymore.....Tel did it once though, he had to go to melbourne anyway so he flew them Melb to KL and KL to london, he said he probably wouldn't do the KL to London leg again it was too uncomfy for too long, but then it did only cost under a thousand bucks!

 

I looked yesterday at going to KL with them and then Malaysian to London, was about $800!!

[Keith & Linda]

Once when I was at the bar in the departure longe at KL airport a nice looking flight attendant in her unifrm came and sat nearby, so I thought I would try and inpress her by guessing which airline she worked for, so I say the Delta airlines motto "we love to fly and it shows" but no response from her, so I try the air France motto "Winning the hearts of the world" but she just stares at me with a puzzled look, so I try the Malasian air motto "Going beyond expectations" This time she glaringly looks at me and says "what the f$%# do you want" Ah! ah! I smilingly say "Air Asia":biglaugh:

 

 

Should have gone in the I say I say I say thread, but seemed more appropiate here in this instance. Happy flying