AirAsia Japan targets long-haul services by 2013
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
AirAsia Japan is yet to get off the ground but has already revealed plans to launch long-haul flights in its second year. The new joint venture low cost carrier between AirAsia and All Nippon Airways (ANA) is set to launch next year with domestic flights and international services to Korea. Looking further ahead, it has announced plans to add long-distance flights in 2013 as it seeks to lure holidaymakers and budget travellers with cheap flights, reports Bloomberg.
The move will see the carrier deviate from AirAsia’s traditional business model with the addition of Airbus SAS A330 aircraft to the fleet. These wide bodied planes will operate services to possible destinations such as Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, said Chief Executive Officer Kazuyuki Iwakata. These flights will be available at a third of the price offered by traditional carriers. Iwakata said; “We want [families] to be able to think about taking a flight as easily as they would hop on a bus.”