In appreciation of the Malaysian government’s visa-free entry, AirAsia responds with a substantial capacity increase
SEPANG, 27 November 2023 – AirAsia, one of Asia’s leading low-cost carriers, has unveiled ambitious plans to add over 5 million seats for flights connecting China, India, and Malaysia in 2024. The move comes in response to the Malaysian government’s decision to grant a 30-day visa-free entry to travelers from China and India, effective from December 1, 2023.
The airline will significantly boost services on the China-Malaysia and India-Malaysia routes, introducing a total of 230 weekly flights starting in the first quarter of 2024. This expansion will be facilitated by both AirAsia Malaysia (airline code AK) and AirAsia X Malaysia (airline code D7), with an annual capacity of up to 5.2 million seats.
Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes said:
“This is a huge, much-anticipated news not only for AirAsia but for the country, and we truly thank the Malaysian government, particularly Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for this forward-thinking initiative. AirAsia has been at the forefront of trying to make visiting Malaysia easier. The 30-day visa-free entry for the citizens of China and India will surely provide a welcome boost for Malaysia’s tourism and its economy ahead of the upcoming peak travel season while boosting economic bonds between these great nations. As a vital player in the aviation sector, we stand ready to add capacity to support the demand for affordable and accessible air travel in the region.”
AirAsia Malaysia (AK) and AirAsia X Malaysia (D7) are set to enhance connectivity by increasing frequencies on nine routes into India, offering a total of 74 flights weekly. AirAsia Malaysia (AK) will operate flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bengaluru, Kolkata, Cochin, Hyderabad, Chennai, Trichy, and Trivandrum. Notably, a new destination, Trivandrum, will be introduced starting in February 2024. Meanwhile, AirAsia X Malaysia (D7) will connect Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi and Amritsar.
Conversely, among Indian carriers, only IndiGo presently operates daily flights connecting Chennai and Kuala Lumpur.
AirAsia Aviation Group Limited Group CEO, Bo Lingam said:
“We see this as an opportunity not only to enhance regional connectivity in two of our largest markets, but also to act as a catalyst for significant economic growth. With an estimated 4.6 million guests expected to travel on our extensive network of 26 routes in China and India in 2024 alone, we are ready to play a pivotal role in achieving Malaysia’s ambitious tourism targets of 25 million international tourists annually.”
The strategic expansion aims to capitalize on the growing demand for air travel in the region, with AirAsia positioning itself as a key player in facilitating increased connectivity between Malaysia and India.
