Gatwick Airport in London has welcomed the arrival of guests from the capital city of Malaysia for the first time as AirAsia X touched down on its new London home, having switched from Stansted Airport. 

AirAsia X will be flying five times a week to Kuala Lumpur, moving to six flights a week by mid-December.

Long-haul routes to south-east Asia have been underserved by Gatwick with AirAsia X hoping pent up demand from passengers can be met.

Guy Stephenson, Gatwick Airport’s commercial director said: “South-east Asia is an important destination for UK business and leisure travellers and so we are excited that AirAsia X has chosen to operate the popular London-KL route from Gatwick and enable us to meet growing passenger demand for travel to this region.

“Gatwick offers an attractive proposition to airlines and their customers. We are within an hours drive for around 15 million people and we have fast and excellent rail connections to central London.”

The London-Kuala Lumpur route will be serviced by AirAsia X’s Airbus A340-300, which has 327 seats including 18 Premium Fly Flat bed seats.

AirAsia head of commercial, Darren Wright, said: “Our aim has always been to open up travel for all.

“The popularity of the London-KL route is further testament to the pent-up demand for long-haul travel, provided the fares are low and the quality is high.

“That is the combination that we at AirAsia X are offering our guests.”