An exciting phase in cut price air travel to and from Perth is about to start with Kuala Lumpur
based AirAsia X announcing it will commence services to Perth this coming November.AirAsia X is part of the AirAsia group which operates 65 aircraft to over 90 destinations in
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and China.
Perth Airport CEO Brad Geatches said that the AirAsia group had an outstanding reputation
for service, reliability and value which will be embraced by the Western Australian market.
“Perth Airport is delighted to welcome AirAsia X to Western Australia.”
“One of the region’s greatest airline success stories, AirAsia offers outstanding value for
money to its customers and access to the Air Asia group network which is one of the best in
south-east Asia.”
AirAsia X will commence services with six return flights per week between Perth and Kuala
Lumpur. This will increase to daily return services in March 2009. The service will operate
using a new wide bodied Airbus A330 aircraft, giving passengers a level of service not
normally expected from low cost airlines.
Mr Geatches said the decision of AirAsia X to make Perth its second Australian destination
was a strong vote of confidence in the inbound and outbound Western Australian tourism
markets.
“The low cost fares offered by AirAsia X will make Western Australia a much more affordable
destination for the hundreds of millions of people living in destinations throughout Asia
served by the AirAsia group.”
“For Western Australian travellers, the arrival of AirAsia X provides an outstanding
opportunity to take advantage of low fares to Malaysia and to use the expansive AirAsia
group network to visit great holiday, shopping and adventure travel destinations throughout
south-east Asia.”
The arrival of AirAsia X also highlights the unrealised potential of the low cost carrier model
in the Western Australian market.
“Perth has the lowest exposure to the low cost carrier airline model of all the major airport
destinations in Australia. The decision by AirAsia X to make Perth its second destination in
Australia sends a strong signal that the time has come for Perth to receive its fair share of
low cost air fares.”
Mr Geatches emphasised that the south-east Asian market was very important to Perth
Airport.
“More than half of the forecast 2.5 million international passenger arrivals and departures for
Perth Airport during 2008-09 are expected to be to and from south-east Asian destinations.”
“The arrival of another south-east Asian carrier at Perth Airport will also naturally strengthen
the strong economic and cultural ties which exist between Western Australia as the nation’s
economic powerhouse and our high growth Asian neighbours.”
Perth Airport has recently announced a $1 billion vision for the future, with new regional,
domestic and international terminal facilities to be built in the location of the existing
international terminal.
“Perth Airport’s partnership with growing airlines such as AirAsia X sends a strong signal of
continued high levels of passenger growth. This makes the new Perth Airport investment
absolutely essential”, Mr Geatches said.
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