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