AIRASIA X AWAITS GREEN LIGHT TO FLY TO JEDDAH & SYDNEY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- AirAsia X is awaiting government
approval to start flights to Jeddah and Sydney, non-executive independent
Chairman Rafidah Aziz said.

These routes, which were in high demand, would boost tourism development in
the country and enhance the growing economic connection between the countries,
she said.

"Additional airline service will help us from losing out in serving these
routes compared with neighbour airlines," she told reporters at a skills
training certification ceremony for women entreprenuers organised by HSBC and
the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia here Wednesdaytoday.

"We are not trying to compete with the national airline but respond to
further growth in demand for business and vacation travel," she said.

Last year, AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman Rani was quoted as
saying that Malaysia currently has less than half and often one-third the number
of direct flights to Jeddah and Sydney compared with Singapore and Bangkok.

Both countries provide up to four different airlines serving these strategic
routes compared with only one airline in Malaysia.

Asked on whether AirAsia will emphasise on plans to have a low cost carrier
terminal in Kuching this year, she said: "Our focus is now set to expand routes,
then other things will follow suit."