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[Robert Bing]

Some good news from AirAsia. They are finally going to start flying to Hong Kong from Bangkok and KL.

HONG KONG : Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia will launch three new daily services to Hong Kong, press reports said Thursday, the latest sign that the airport's luring of cheaper airlines was paying dividends.

AirAsia's chief executive Tony Fernandes said the carrier would launch new daily routes from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu between December and January, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

Fernandes added that the move was a long-held ambition for the airline, which entered the greater Chinese market with flights to Macau and Shenzhen, but had previously resisted because of Hong Kong's high landing prices.

He said improved incentives from the airport had tipped the balance in favour of offering the new service, and hinted their may be more routes in the future.

"It is a good start in response to the good gesture from the Hong Kong government," Fernandes said.

A Hong Kong airport authority spokesman told AFP the move followed a new package announced last year to target small carriers, which sees a 75 percent rebate in landing charges during the first six months to new destinations and lower parking rates.

Fernandes praised the discount and said one-way tickets to Bangkok would start at 300 Hong Kong dollars (US$38), and 400 dollars to Kuala Lumpur.

Fernandes also told the Wall Street Journal that AirAsia was in talks with Airbus to buy a further 25 A320 jetliners, in a deal which could be worth US$1.63 billion, to meet its expanding network's demands.

AirAsia earlier this month unveiled a new deal with Richard Branson's Virgin Airlines to develop AirAsia X, the long-haul budget carrier which hopes to build a network of long-haul flights across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. - AFP/ch

[cindy]

I'm surprised they are going to fly to both Hong Kong and Macau.  Is the ferry ride off-putting to people, or is it just that people going to Hong Kong only look for Hong Kong flights?

[Robert Bing]

I would imagine that people who want to go to Hong Kong would prefer to get there directly, bypassing the ferry ride, especially those with luggage.

I think there is enough demand from both Macau and Hong Kong. Both are very popular with mainland Chinese tourists and some of them will want to venture further.

Not many other budget airlines fly to Hong Kong at the moment. We'll see if the lower landing fees package offered by the airport will attract other low-cost airlines.

[Elva]

This is a challenge for the largest leading Low-cost carrier, AirAsia to operate the flight HKG/BBK. The high landing cost of HK International Airport is a big barry to Low-cost carrier. In my view, the operating concept and characteristics of Low-cost carrier (LCC) should be given to the Local residents in order to open the new LCC market in Hong Kong because it's still a new business term to the HK general public.

Why a delayed development of LCC in Hong Kong and Macau emerage in 2006? Is Hong Kong a suitable city to develop LCC ?

[cindy]

That makes me think that Hong Kong is losing traffic to Macau because a lot of people are going on short trips and are willing to take the ferry to save money.  It's a very popular destination for long weekends from Singapore and Malaysia and long weekends usually mean less luggage, and that makes the low-cost carrier to Macau more feasible.  And maybe people are actually going to Macau and spending the weekend there because that's where the cheap flight goes.

[1doohan]

Well they still aint flying there yet . HKG/BKK 

[elinaho]

Thanks a lot for sharing this information with us  Air Asia is one of my most favorite airline and because of this facility, now my journey would be easier. Thanks again 

[kawingruby]

Does anyone know when will it start??

[Robert Bing]

Announcement from AirAsia:

By 15 May 2008, AirAsia will start Kuala Lumpur-Hong Kong with fares starting from RM49.99*/HKD99*. Hong Kong has long been on the radar for many business travelers and a shopping haven for many tourists. The bustling city is one of the largest financial centres in China and a major international air hub for some of the biggest airlines in the world. Connectivity between Hong Kong and Malaysia, in addition to Singapore, will boost traffic exchange between the countries in making Kuala Lumpur a connectivity hub, for both routes have been highly demanded by many.

With the low cost carrier , business travelers are given a choice to fly with our low fares to Hong Kong and vice versa more frequently. AirAsia also aims to tap the youth market with its low fares to boost inbound traffic into Kuala Lumpur. The young generation in Hong Kong is spa, food and beach lovers, and for a country as diversified as Malaysia, it has everything to offer for Hong Kong travelers.