AirAsia flies to new destinations

AirAsia flies to new destinations

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's budget airline AirAsia on Wednesday launched flights to five new domestic destinations from Senai airport in southern Johor state near Singapore.

The daily flights to Penang, Kuching, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Miri "fit nicely with our plans to turn Senai airport into AirAsia's southern hub," said the airline's chief executive Tony Fernandes.

"While initial destinations served are domestic routes, we will start flying to Bangkok by February 2004 and soon to other regional destinations.

"We are targeting vacationers and the business community to use these new services, primarily tapping the Johor market of more than 2.6 million people and Singapore's own population," he said in a statement.

Fernandes said recently the pioneering airline remains interested in flying out of Singapore itself despite not getting concessions on lower airport charges and discussions were continuing with the Civil Aviation Authority. --AFP