AirAsia Opens its Sixth Malaysian Hub in Langkawi

23rd Sep 2015

 Malaysian carrier AirAsia has picked the island of Langkawi to be its sixth hub for operations in the country, after Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Johor Bahru and Penang.

The airline announced the first flights from Langkawi will go to Hong Kong and Guangzhou, but also said it is considering flying from here to Bangkok as well as several other cities by 2020.

AirAsia announced plans for a new hub earlier this year in March and this has just come as a confirmation of that.

 AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes said a few days ago during the CAPA LCC Airports Congress held in Bangkok (15^th September) that the airline will be looking to reduce airport charges by as much as 70% by launching flights from Langkawi to Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

Fernandes also said the plan for the next couple of years is to launch another route from Langkawi to Bangkok, but also to five other international routes as well.

Speaking about the potential of this island and the importance of lowering charges at Langkawi Airport, Fernandes said:

By reducing the charges we invest, we’re able to stimulate new routes and an airport that was really earning no income is going to earn a tremendous amount of income.

AirAsia X Confirms Ismail as CEO

Meanwhile, AirAsia’s subsidiary AirAsia X appointed today its acting CEO Benyamin Ismail to the position officially.

Ismail was previously the head of AirAsia’s investor relations and the acting CEO for AirAsia X since January this year after the previous CEO, Azran Osman-Rani left the company. He joined the company in 2010, having worked at CIMB Investment Bank Bhd before it.

AAX said the following in an announcement regarding the appointment:

The board approved on Sept 22 and the letter of appointment also dated on the same day which specified that the CEO’s appointment is to take effect from Sept 1.