AirAsia to launch Kuala Lumpur-Kunming, Kuala Lumpur-Nanning and Bangkok-Xian services

AirAsia Group told CAPA (06-Sep-2012) that its Malaysian short-haul affiliate plans to launch A320 services from Kuala Lumpur to Kunming and Nanning in the coming months while its Thai affiliate plans to launch A320 services from Bangkok to Xian. The upcoming network expansion will give AirAsia Group 11 destinations in mainland China. The group now serves seven Chinese destinations - Beijing (A330s from KL), Chengdu (A320s from KL), Chongqing (A320s from Bangkok), Guilin (A320s from KL), Guangzhou (A320s from KL and Bangkok), Hangzhou (A330s from KL) and Shenzhen (A320s from KL and Bangkok). AirAsia earlier announced the launch of A320 service from Bangkok to Wuhan starting 19-Oct-2012. The group previously indicated it was interested in potentially serving Kunming and Xian while it already operates charters to Nanning from Bangkok and Phuket. Launch dates for the new KL to Kunming and Nanning and Bangkok to Xian scheduled services have not yet been formally announced. AirAsia will be the first foreign LCC operating scheduled services at all four of its new Chinese destinations. Malaysia Airlines currently serves KL-Kunming with three weekly Boeing 737 flights while China Eastern plans to launch two weekly 737 flights on the KL-Nanning route in late Oct-2012, according to Innovata data. Thailand's Business Air currently operates two weekly flights on both the Bangkok to Wuhan and Xian routes using Boeing 767-300s, according to Innovata.