2 daily low-cost flights from KL, S'pore proposed
Saturday, November 3, 2007
MALAYSIA has proposed to Singapore that budget carriers from Malaysia be allowed to operate two daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to here, and an equal number of flights from Singapore budget carriers from here to Kuala Lumpur, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said today.
The flights will be part of an expanded Malaysia-Singapore air services agreement, of which details will be worked out by officials from both countries this month.
"I have met (Singapore Transport Minister) Raymond Lim and conveyed to him officially the proposal by Malaysia and we have agreed to task our officials to discuss it in detail," Chan told reporters here at the conclusion of the 13th Asean Transport Ministers Meeting.
"Let the officials meet and discuss," Chan said when asked about the time frame when budget carriers can begin their operations on the route now dominated by Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
Asked whether the two flights from Malaysia will be allocated to AirAsia, Chan merely said that these will be for low-cost carriers.
Meanwhile, long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X, an affiliate of AirAsia and Virgin Blue, was scheduled to launch its maiden service to the Gold Coast of Australia last night, marking the first direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast by any airline.
The airline will fly four direct flights a week between the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) and Gold Coast Airport, with 279 economy seats and 36 premium XL seats available, said AirAsia spokesman Janet Leow.
"From Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia X's D7 2702 flight will fly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9.40pm, plus Sundays at 7.20pm.
"Meanwhile from Gold Coast, the flight is on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8.55am plus Sundays at 6.35pm," said Leow.
Launched in January this year, AirAsia X, is 60-per cent owned by Aero Ventures, a venture by AirAsia's chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes and his business associates, 20-per cent owned by Virgin Group and 20 percent owned by AirAsia.
Bernama
The flights will be part of an expanded Malaysia-Singapore air services agreement, of which details will be worked out by officials from both countries this month.
"I have met (Singapore Transport Minister) Raymond Lim and conveyed to him officially the proposal by Malaysia and we have agreed to task our officials to discuss it in detail," Chan told reporters here at the conclusion of the 13th Asean Transport Ministers Meeting.
"Let the officials meet and discuss," Chan said when asked about the time frame when budget carriers can begin their operations on the route now dominated by Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
Asked whether the two flights from Malaysia will be allocated to AirAsia, Chan merely said that these will be for low-cost carriers.
Meanwhile, long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X, an affiliate of AirAsia and Virgin Blue, was scheduled to launch its maiden service to the Gold Coast of Australia last night, marking the first direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast by any airline.
The airline will fly four direct flights a week between the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) and Gold Coast Airport, with 279 economy seats and 36 premium XL seats available, said AirAsia spokesman Janet Leow.
"From Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia X's D7 2702 flight will fly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9.40pm, plus Sundays at 7.20pm.
"Meanwhile from Gold Coast, the flight is on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8.55am plus Sundays at 6.35pm," said Leow.
Launched in January this year, AirAsia X, is 60-per cent owned by Aero Ventures, a venture by AirAsia's chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes and his business associates, 20-per cent owned by Virgin Group and 20 percent owned by AirAsia.
Bernama
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