Asia airline ends ChCh flights
AirAsia X's last flight will be on May 31.
Malaysian discount airline AirAsia X will stop flying between Christchurch and Kuala Lumpur after May 31.
The airline’s decision was not unexpected as the route has been unprofitable. Air Asia X had previously withdrawn from other long-haul routs to Europe and India.
Instead it will focus on its profitable short-haul routes to Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Iran.
The current four times weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch will end on May 30 (from Kuala Lumpur) and May 31 (from Christchurch).
Booked passengers after that date will have the choice of a full refund, a reroute to another AirAsia X destination or a rebook of a return flight before May 31. No charge will be made for this.
Chief executive Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said the decision to withdraw from Christchurch was a difficult one but since the suspension of flights to Europe and India the airline had increased flight frequencies to Tokyo and had opened up a new route to Sydney.
“Our Kuala Lumpur-Christchurch route has performed strongly in terms of demand since our launch in April 2011, recording close to 80% loads in 2011," he said in a statement.
"However, the Christchurch route has been impacted by the spiraling cost of jet fuel. Since the launch of the route, jet fuel prices have increased in excess of 30%, and are currently still at very high levels. The high cost of fuel has compromised our ability to offer our renowned low fares.”
Nevil Gibson
Tue, 13 Mar 2012
Tue, 13 Mar 2012
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Asia airline ends ChCh flights
19359