AirAsia X expects US FAA approval imminently

AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail, speaking on CAPA TV, said (16-Nov-2016) AirAsia X should soon secure US FAA approval to operate to the US. AirAsia X has been working on the US FAA approval process for over 18 months. Mr Ismail acknowledges it has taken longer than expected but it has now completed the process and, "we are just waiting for the official letter to come out." As the airline needs time to market its planned first service to the US, which it cannot do until it secures FAA approval, it is now aiming to launch Osaka-Honolulu service in Jun-2017. AirAsia X initially aimed to launch Osaka-Honolulu service in Nov-2015 and has since repeatedly delayed plans for the route due to delays in securing US FAA approval. "We went in very blindly with the application," Mr Ismail acknowledged, and added: "We'll get it through anyway." [more - CAPA TV]