AirAsia to develop Penang hub
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Following the announcement that AirAsia will launch services from Penang to Hong Kong from 31 July, the Malaysian low-cost carrier has said that it plans to turn Penang into its fourth hub in Malaysia. The Business Times reported the airline’s Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan, as saying that Penang had previously been a ‘virtual hub’ for AirAsia, as it did not park planes at the Penang International Airport. But following the launch of the Hong Kong services, and a second daily flight to Singapore, one AirAsia plane will be parked at the island hub.
But the airline will start parking one plane at the airport as of July 31, as it starts flying to Hong Kong and adds its second daily frequency to Singapore.
“Penang is suitable as a hub because it is a tourist destination and a fast-growing industrial and trading centre,” Tan told Business Times. “We are looking at a second plane next year as we continue to build Penang as a hub. There is heavy investment in terms of human capital and equipment in building a hub,” she added.
AirAsia currently has eight hubs; Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Bandung, Bali, Jakarta, Bangkok and a ‘virtual hub’ in Singapore.
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