MORE INDIAN CITIES FOR AIRASIA IN 2009

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, April 20 (Bernama) -- Low-cost carrier AirAsia is making huge
expansion in Asia this year, flying to at least six more cities in India,
Colombo in Sri Lanka and Taipei from either Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.

According to industry sources, the airline is expected to start the Kuala
Lumpur-Taipei route in June and Kuala Lumpur-Colombo sector in August.

"More destinations will be added, both in India and China, once new planes
arrive. There will be new destinations from both Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok,"
the sources said.

Thai AirAsia Chief Executive Officer Tassapon Bijleveld confirmed recently
that Thailand's popular resort island Phuket would become the airline's second
hub in the Kingdom after Bangkok.

He, however, declined to disclose the planned routes although it is believed
that Hong Kong would be the first destination.

From September onwards, AirAsia, voted the best low-cost carrier by
London-based consultancy group, Skytrax, is expected to fly to Chennai and
Hyderabad from Bangkok once Thai AirAsia receives more new Airbus from its
European maker.

The sources said AirAsia's long-haul airline, AirAsia X, is likely to
fly to several more routes from Kuala Lumpur to India, namely its capital New
Delhi, business hub Mumbai, IT City Bangalore, Amritsar in Punjab and Kochi,
the second biggest city in Kerala.

The airline, which had advertised for station managers in the seven Indian
cities, currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli City
since last December.

Last week, AirAsia X launched the Kuala Lumpur to Tianjin flight and is
planning to fly to Chengdu and Xian soon. Other cities in China served by
AirAsia include Macau, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Guilin and
Haikou.

AirAsia, which started with only two planes eight years ago, currently has
over 75 planes and flies to 65 destinations.

-- BERNAMA