Approval
In late January AirAsia X got permission from the FAA to fly to the U.S (h/t tip TPG). This is significant because AirAsia is one of the major players when it comes to ultra low cost carriers. Even if you’re not a fan of the ULCC model (low case rates and fees for everything), this can only be seen as good news as it puts additional pressure on legacy carriers to lower their rates (this could be seen as less true with the introduction of basic economy fares that basically just mimic the ULCC model).
Flights To Hawaii
In the last few days AirAsia X announced that the first U.S. destination they will serve will be Hawaii. They will be offering flights from their hub in Kuala Lumpur to Honolulu from RM499 (~$112 USD approximately), these fares will last until February 26th (or until sold out) for flights between June 28th, 2017 to February 6th 2018. You’ll also be able to access their “lie flat” seats for RM2,999 (~$674).
It will not be a direct flight with a two hour transit stop in Osaka, Japan (guests are allowed to return to their seats after clearing security). The flight schedule will be as follows:
F.A.Q’s about the flight can also be found here.
Our Verdict
This move by AirAsia is about connecting Japan with Hawaii due to strong demand for that route. I wouldn’t expect more flights to the U.S. in the near future.
I’ve flown AirAsia a lot more than you might expect and I’ve never actually had any issues with them, in terms of low cost carriers they are probably my favorite to fly. It’s no frills but if I’m doing a short intra-ASEAN flight I don’t exactly need a full service airline.
Do any of you think you’d make use of these flights? What are your thoughts on AirAsia & ULCC’s in general? Let us know in the comments below.
