RM499 to London one-way, five times a week

LONDON: It’s £99 or RM499 one-way – that’s the much-awaited opening net fare of AirAsia X’s latest London Stansted-Kuala Lumpur route for travel between March 11 and Oct 4 next year.

Premium seats will also go for RM1,999 one-way during the same travel period.

Online bookings begin at 8pm Tuesday night (Malaysian time) for the five times a week direct flights, AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani announced at the route launch at London’s County Hall.

The launch featured a special performance by five-piece British girl band The Saturdays.

“The London-Kuala Lumpur route is the realisation of a long-held ambition to open up affordable access between Malaysia and Europe for both the Asean and European communities,” said AirAsia Group CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

Fernandes said with the airline’s comprehensive route network, the opportunity for Londoners and Europeans to explore Asean had never been greater.

“This new route will benefit all of Asean as it will encourage more economic and tourism activities, bringing in more revenue and creating job opportunities,” he said.

Azran described the London route as a significant achievement, allowing those who had always wanted to travel between Europe and Asean to achieve their dream at an affordable price.

He said their low-fare offerings through London Stansted would stimulate greater demand from the European community to discover Asean and vice versa.

Stansted Airport’s commercial and development director Nick Barton, who finalised discussions with AirAsia X, hailed the launch as a major milestone for low-cost, long-haul air travel around the world.

“This is set to be a hugely popular link for business and leisure travellers seeking affordable long-haul travel options,” he added.

To date, AirAsia X – the long-haul affiliate of AirAsia – flies to the Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne in Australia, Hangzhou in China and now London.

Stansted is Britain’s third busiest airport, with 22.8 million passengers passing through and many leading low-cost airlines making it their base.