No-frills AirAsia to expand to ASEAN

No-frills AirAsia to expand to ASEAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's no-frills AirAsia will start flying
regionally by January 2004 as its two-phase expansion plan
broadens its network through joint ventures with airlines in
Indonesia and Thailand, a report said on Monday.

In the process, AirAsia plans to buy up to eight additional
aircraft to service its new regional routes, AirAsia chairman
Pahamin Rajab was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

"Our immediate plan will be to fly between domestic hubs such
as Kota Kinabalu, Senai and Penang. Once we obtain the
government's approval to fly from these hubs, we will proceed to
the second phase of our expansion," he said.

At present, AirAsia operates six B737-300 and will expand the
fleet to 15 by the end of the year. These additional eight
aircraft, to be used for the regional expansion, will bring its
fleet to 23. -- AFP