AirAsia X adds three new key routes to Australia and New Zealand

AirAsia X (AAX), the medium to long-haul affiliate airline of AirAsia Aviation Group announces its latest services to Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Perth in Australia as well as Auckland in New Zealand which will all take flight from 1st November 2022.

These three key routes boost the airline’s robust growth plans with 13-routes set to be operating this year, including Sydney, New Delhi, Seoul, Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka and Honolulu as well as London, Dubai and Istanbul.

AAX will recommence its services to Melbourne (Tullamarine), Perth and Auckland (via Sydney) with three weekly flights from November and will gradually increase the frequency to daily flights by the first quarter of 2023 to meet strong pent up demand.

CEO of AAX Benyamin Ismail said: “We are thrilled to recommence our services to Australia and New Zealand as a core part of our expansion strategy with our famous great value fares for medium to long-haul travel.

“We are also pleased to announce our return to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) which offers more flexibility and connectivity for our guests travelling to and from the state of Victoria.

“In 2019, we flew over a million guests to both countries, which shows that Australia and New Zealand are important markets for us and we connected the same number of Australians and New Zealanders to Malaysia and across Asean. After a two-year hiatus we are back stronger than ever and proud to renew our commitment to making medium to long-haul air travel affordable once again for everyone in this region as well as across Asean.

“As the world reopens and travel restrictions ease, we are confident these new services will prove popular. Our Premium Flatbeds remain the best low cost seats in the sky, which we know are always in high demand for our Australian and Kiwi guests from down under.

“Importantly with over a dozen routes in our network this year, our valued guests with outstanding credit will be able to use their travel vouchers to book future travel to many exciting destinations with us. We will bring back everyone’s favourite destinations and even more in the near future and look forward to welcoming guests back on board with our great value fares and industry-leading hospitality.”

Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said the return of AirAsia X to Melbourne Airport underscores the airport’s convenience and competitiveness. He added: “AirAsia X flew out of Melbourne Airport for a decade, and we know our customers will be thrilled to have them back here. With a significant network beyond Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia X provides a one-stop service into much of India and South-East Asia, which is particularly valuable for international students or Victorians looking to visit friends and family overseas. AirAsia X’s decision to return to Melbourne Airport highlights the value travellers and airlines place on convenience as well as price.”

Perth Airport Chief Executive Officer Kevin Brown said that the recovery of Western Australia’s aviation sector has been given another boost with the return of AirAsia X. “We’ve been working hard with our airline partners to rebuild international connections and AirAsia X services to Kuala Lumpur provide another link to Malaysia and onwards.”

Auckland Airport General Manager Customer and Aeronautical Commercial Scott Tasker said: “We can’t wait to see AirAsia X touching down again at Auckland Airport in November. The new service will not only provide more choice for trans-Tasman travellers looking for competitive fares on the popular route between Sydney and Auckland but is a great option for those wanting to connect through to AirAsia’s extensive Asian network.

“With the widebody A330 flying the Auckland-Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route, it also adds substantial cargo capacity, which is great news for freight operators and exporters looking for options through to Sydney and beyond into Asia.”