AIRASIA X YET TO SEE 50 PERCENT LANDING REBATE

By Saraswathi Muniappan

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- AirAsia X is still waiting for
implementation of the 50 percent rebate on landing charges as announced in the
second economic stimulus package, chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said
Thursday.

AirAsia X, an associate of AirAsia Bhd with shareholders such as the Virgin
group and AirAsia, is a low-cost long-haul airline launched in January 2007.

"We are hopeful and waiting for any kind of notification," Azran said when
asked if the airline was already benefiting from the rebate.

Any cost reduction will ultimately benefit the customers and more people
will be encouraged to travel, he told Bernama here Thursday.

Under the RM60 billion second stimulus package announced by the government
last month, the rebate will be given for two years, effective April 1, 2009, to
all airlines operating from Malaysia.

The move is mainly to attract more tourists, particularly from abroad, as
part of the concerted efforts to encourage more airlines to operate from
Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA