AirAsia becomes latest low-cost name to land in Beijing
File photo of AirAsia X cabin crew in Beijing. — Picture courtesy of AirAsiaKUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Asian low-cost pioneer AirAsia X is to commence service to Beijing.
The carrier will begin flights on June 22, increasing the frequency to and from China’s booming capital in August.
The news is likely to be welcomed by passengers as the new flights will replace its current service to Tianjin, which is around 100km from Beijing — it’s also served by AirAsia X’s rival, Scoot, which will now be the sole international name operating there.
While AirAsia is based in Malaysia, it is a popular low-cost solution for international travellers in the region, flying 150 routes around the region, as well as to long-haul destinations such as Australia, Japan and Iran.
AirAsia’s Kathleen Tan told reporters on Tuesday that “the number of Malaysians travelling to China has also grown tremendously. We are confident that our low fares will help to stimulate and trigger new travel demand, and will help to boost tourism potential on both ends.”
The nighttime arrival and departures won’t please all flyers, but Beijing is a long-sought-after prize for AirAsia X — it’s an airport struggling to accommodate new airlines because of the huge number of flights now operating daily.
That means that low-cost airlines struggle to get a look-in, although AirAsia X isn’t the only name operating from the airport, as Jetstar’s first daily service from Australia launched late last year.
Beijing Airport is now the second busiest in the world, second only to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson in the US. — AFP-Relaxnews
