Now Everyone Can Fly To Europe
By MK Anwar & Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - Now everyone can really fly. Cheaper flights to the rest of the world are a step closer after AirAsia's announcement on Friday that they will start flying to destinations in China, India and Europe under their new budget long haul airline called 'AirAsia X in July.

AirAsia X is a collaboration between AirAsia and Fly Asia Express or FAX, a small airline currently serving Borneo routes in Malaysia.

Royal Brunei Airlines, which operates a Brunei to London Heathrow route, refused to comment on the announcement.

AirAsia has made its presence felt in the country when it became the first no-frills airline to touch down in Brunei Darussalam after its inaugural flight in July last year. Previously, Bruneians wishing to fly to Kuala Lumpur had to board AirAsia in Miri. Despite the predicted competition, the Vice President of RBA Corporate Communications Hj Rozman Hj Junaidi revealed in an interview in November last year that they have not seen any major impact on their flights from the low cost airline.

He noted that RBA's Brunei-Kuala Lumpur load factor is still like before and is still healthy.

Meanwhile, AFP reported that Malaysian Airlines (MAS) is "unfazed" by the launch of the new long haul budget carrier and that there is room for both airlines to cater for the demand.

So far, there are already two airlines offering budget long haul travel, Oasis in Hong Kong and Jetstar International in Australia.

Oasis has already launched flights from Hong Kong to Gatwick, London, while Jetstar has Sydney-to-Honolulu route as well as Nagoya and Osaka. Oasis also plans to expand its routes to Berlin, Milan and Chicago.

A one-way ticket using AirAsia X from KL to Europe will start from RM9.99. Food, drinks and in-flight entertainment would be offered on the flight upon request but the price will not be included in the ticket and are paid separately. Tickets will be sold online beginning this February.

Bruneians wishing to travel might have to go to KL first, so a planned B$5 budget flight to London will also have to include the fare from Brunei to KL.

Hjh Yati, a housewife from Kg Kiarong, said she will be interested to fly using AirAsia X but added that she'll wait for what passengers of the first 'Xtra Long' haul flight have to say.

The same view is shared by Awg Zainal, a teacher, who however believed that for those who are used to the food and quality pampering by our (RBA) and other airlines, to just stick flying with it.

"This will be budget travel, so I don't expect the same things as what are being offered by RBA or Singapore Airlines," he said.

Md Yusri bin Zainuddin who works in the private sector residing in Kg Kilanas was excited about the prospect of flying cheap to Europe.

Md Yusri added that when he was a student in Europe, it was difficult for "my family to visit me as we have a large family and we were not that well off, so I only got to see them once in a while.

He added: "With the cheap pricing, I think our family can schedule a flight to London to visit my brother who is currently studying there."

. Dyg Suhaila binte Jailani, a government employee from Kg Lumapas thinks otherwise. She has doubts, saying that the price offer is difficult to believe. Other aviation costs such as fuel surcharge, insurance and others means that it won't be the same price that is offered.

A travel operator here commented that AirAsia undeniably offers a very innovative product and that they won't be surprised if the budget long haul flight really takes off and gains popularity especially among the young locals.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has already reported that the 2006 international passenger traffic for the first half of the year grew 6.7 per cent in this region and is forecast to grow 6.5 per cent a year until 2009.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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