AirAsia X To Fly Direct To Beijing In June

By Ng Che Yean BEIJING (China), May 17 (Bernama) -- AirAsia X, which will launch its inaugural direct flight to Beijing this June, aims to expand its network further into China. "Our guests from Beijing have been waiting for years and we are able to finally meet the robust demand for this exciting destination," AirAsia's Group head of commercial, Kathleen Tan, said at the official launching of the direct flight here Wednesday. "Our entry into Beijing is another major milestone for us." Tan said it has not been easy for a low-cost carrier to launch its service to the capital of China, and the achievement came following the Malaysian and Chinese government efforts to enhance connections between their two capitals. With the direct flight to Beijing, the airline would be also suspending the Tianjin route in late June. On the decision to switch from the Tianjin Airport to Beijing Airport -- a 100 kilometres away -- she said the airline company found that 70 per cent of passengers on the Tianjin route came from Beijing and that it believed the rising demand in Beijing could maximise commercial opportunities. AirAsia X will fly four times a week from its hub in Kuala Lumpur to the Beijing Capital International Airport effective June 22. It will also start offering daily direct flights to Beijing from August 6. To celebrate the launching of the new route, AirAsiaX will be offering special launch fares for the Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route from US$79 (RM249) one way on economy class, and minimum US$362 (RM112 one way on its premium flatbeds. The fares include fuel surcharge and tax. The launch offers will be available for online bookings from May 17 to 20, for the travel period between Aug 6, 2012 to May 22, 2013. --BERNAMA