Bangkok--29 Sep--AirAsia AirAsia, the leading and largest low cost carrier in Asia, has announced additional flights to Ho Chi Minh City from its hubs in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. The decision to increase flight frequency is in direct response to an increasingly strong demand for air travel between Ho Chi Minh and the Malaysian and Thai markets. Effective from 26 October 2008, Kuala Lumpur will increase frequency from 7 to 11 flights weekly (increase of 4 times weekly). Meanwhile, Bangkok flights will go daily from 4 weekly flights to 7 flights weekly. To celebrate the additional flights AirAsia has introduced promotional fares from just RM49* from Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh, with bookings beginning on 25 September to 10 October 2008 for travel period between 26 October to 31 July 2009 and BHT699* from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh, with bookings from 29 September to 10 October 2008, for travel 26 October to 28 March 2009. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the economic capital of Vietnam. The largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling metropolis and industrial centre and a major hub for tourism, commercial and cultural activities. Kathleen Tan, Regional Head of Commercial, AirAsia, said: “The demand for the existing routes made it very clear for the need to introduce additional flights. Kuala Lumpur - Ho Chi Minh was operating with an average load factor of 86 per cent since the launch of the route in April 2008. On the other hand, the Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh route recorded average 90 per cent load factor. We are pleased to be able to unveil the additional flights to cater for the demand.” “Since April we have carried more than 30,000 guests between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh, and more than 50,000 guests from Kuala Lumpur to the city. Our guests constitute a mixture of leisure seekers and business people. We urge people interested in flying to Ho Chi Minh City to look out for our promotional fares running until 5th October.” The popularity of the routes and AirAsia’s subsequent announcement of additional flights is testament to the airline’s commitment of making travel accessible and affordable to all. The route is of extra significance because of AirAsia’s pledge to bring affordable travel to residents in ASEAN countries. Aside from the Ho Chi Minh routes, demands for other routes have also encouraged AirAsia to increase flights. AirAsia has announced additional flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bintulu, Sarawak (now 11 times weekly), Penang (now 6 daily flights), Bali (now 5 daily flights) and a new destination from Johor Bahru, Malaysia to Bali, Indonesia with three flights weekly. Guests may book online for promotional fares from as low as RM6* to Penang, RM20* to Bintulu and RM99 to Denpasar from Kuala Lumpur for the additional flights beginning 26th September to 5th October 2008 for travel period from 5th October 2008 to 31st July 2009. The new destination from Johor Bahru to Bali is offered at fares from as low as RM49* beginning 26th September to 5th October, 2008 for travel period from 5th October 2008 to 28 March 2009. For more details on flight times and bookings, please visit www.airasia.com or mobile.airasia.com * All fares quoted are excluding airport taxes, fuel surcharges and fees, and are applicable for one-way travel only. Flight Schedule for Additional flights from Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City:Flight No Depart Arrive Departure/Arrival Frequency AK 140 Kuala Lumpur Ho Chi Minh City 7:25 / 8:20 1, 3, 5 ,7 AK 146 Kuala Lumpur Ho Chi Minh City 17:40 / 18:30 Daily AK 141 Ho Chi Minh City Kuala Lumpur 8:50 / 11:40 1, 3, 5 ,7 AK 147 Ho Chi Minh City Kuala Lumpur 19:00 / 21:50 Daily Flight Schedule for Additional Flights from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City:Flight No Depart Arrive Departure/Arrival Frequency FD 3724 Bangkok Ho Chi Minh City 15:55 / 17:20 Daily FD 3725 Ho Chi Minh City Bangkok 17:50 / 19:15 Daily Flight Schedule for Additional Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bintulu:Flight No Depart Arrive Departure/Arrival Frequency AK 5146 Kuala Lumpur Bintulu 8:50 / 10:55 1, 3, 5, 7 AK 5147 Bintulu Kuala Lumpur 11:20 / 13:25 1, 3, 5, 7 Flight Schedule for Additional Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Penang:Flight No Depart Arrive Departure/Arrival Frequency AK 5374 Kuala Lumpur Penang 19:35 / 20:25 Daily AK 5375 Penang Kuala Lumpur 21:00 / 21:50 Daily Flight Schedule for Additional Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Denpasar (Bali) :Flight No Depart Arrive Departure/Arrival Frequency AK 364 Kuala Lumpur Denpasar 15:00 / 18:00 Daily AK 365 Denpasar Kuala Lumpur 18:30 / 21:25 Daily Flight Schedule for New Flights from Johor Bahru to Denpasar (Bali):Flight No Depart Arrive Departure/Arrival Frequency* AK 5544 Johor Bahru Denpasar 13:30 / 16:05 2, 4, 6 AK 5545 Denpasar Johor Bahru 16:50 / 19:30 2, 4, 6 Note: All numbers in the frequency column of schedule above depicts the following: 1- Monday, 2-Tuesday, 3-Wednesday, 4-Thursday, 5-Friday, 6-Saturday, 7- Sunday For more information please contact: AirAsia Commercial PR Media Relations Team: Sherliza Zaharudin Office No : +603 8660 4294 HP : +6013 621 2411 E-mail : [email protected] Mazlan Rasheed Office No : +603 8660 4263 HP : +6012 273 9097 Email : [email protected] Linda Foo My Office No : +603 8660 4272 My Mobile No : +6012 351 3372 My Email : [email protected]