AirAsia to begin direct flights to Brunei on Tuesday
By Azlan Othman

For the first time since the advent of low fare travel in the Asean region, the long awaited flight connecting Kuala Lumpur and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam is finally ready to take off.

Beginning July 11, Asia's largest and low fare airline, AirAsia, will commence a daily direct service between Kuala Lumpur and Bandar Seri Begawan, becoming the first low fare airline to gain entry into Brunei. Flight AK 796 is expected to touch down in Brunei at 5.35pm.

Brunei becomes the seventh country in Asean to be included in the airline's growing route network in the region following the launch of destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Singapore and the Philippines.

Promotional launch fares for this new service start from RM89.99/$39.99 one-way, and have been available for sale since June 2. All fares quoted exclude airport taxes, surcharges and fees, and are applicable for travel one way only.

AirAsia's expanded links to East Malaysia also provides a convenient alternative for travellers to enter Brunei through Miri, and Labuan. AirAsia presently operates seven flights weekly to Labuan from Kuala Lumpur, and 21 flights weekly to Miri. It also flies four times a week to Miri from Senai, Johor Bahru.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the airline may consider including a Kota-Kinabalu-Sandakan route in addition to two new destinations to be introduced next week, said its Group Chief Executive Officer Dato Tony Fernandes.

AirAsia is introducing the two new flights, Kota Kinabalu to Tawau and Kota Kinabalu to Miri, in conjunction with the launch of new East Malaysia hub at KK International Airport. The hub is expected to start operations next Tuesday, July 11.

The airline's chairman, Dato Pahamin Rajab, said the setting up of the hub was significant for AirAsia's expansion because it suited the nature of lower cost carrier operations to fly from point to point without any transits to cut down operational cost.

"We can't bring passengers from KL and KK and then from KK to Miri. That is why the hub is important for Air Asia," he said.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin