AirAsia Expands Malaysia-India Flight Network with New Destinations
AirAsia, a leading airline group, is significantly enhancing its flight network between Malaysia and India. This strategic expansion includes the introduction of Ahmedabad to its extensive route list, commencing in May. This addition elevates AirAsia’s reach in India to an impressive 11 destinations.
The expansion strategy aligns with the Malaysian government’s recent policy allowing visa-free entry for Indian citizens from December 2023. This move, enabling Indian travelers to stay in Malaysia for up to 30 days without a visa, has been a catalyst for AirAsia’s increased flight routes.
Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group, expressed enthusiasm for the Malaysian government’s decision. He noted, “The visa-free entry for Indian nationals into Malaysia is a commendable initiative, and we at AirAsia are excited to be a part of this journey. Since our first flight to India in 2008, our goal has been to boost affordable connectivity between the two countries. Both nations possess immense untapped tourism potential, and it’s incredible to witness the surge in travel over the past decade.”
Starting May 1, AirAsia will begin operating flights four times a week between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. These flights will be serviced by Airbus A320 aircraft. This move makes AirAsia the second airline to offer nonstop service on this route, joining Malaysia Airlines, which commenced its service in December with Boeing 737-800s.
The introduction of the Kuala Lumpur-Ahmedabad route follows the recent announcement of new routes from Kuala Lumpur to Thiruvananthapuram and Jaipur, launching in February and April respectively. The new route to Ahmedabad alone is expected to add approximately 2,800 weekly two-way seats, with AirAsia accounting for a 51% capacity share in this market.
Currently, AirAsia operates flights from Kuala Lumpur to multiple Indian cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Tiruchchirappalli. Its affiliate, AirAsia X, serves longer routes to Amritsar and New Delhi. The inclusion of Ahmedabad, along with Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram, will expand AirAsia’s Indian network to 11 destinations, affirming its commitment to enhancing Malaysia-India connectivity.
With India ranking as AirAsia’s sixth-largest international market from Malaysia, the airline currently offers 22,500 two-way weekly seats. This number is projected to increase to around 27,000 following the new additions, as per the latest schedules filed with OAG Schedules Analyser. This growth is indicative of AirAsia’s ongoing commitment to facilitating travel and tourism between the two culturally rich nations.