Low cost airline Air Asia adds flights to seven new destinations in 2009.

Malaysian budget airline, Air Asia, is to inaugurate seven new services during the course of 2009 according to CEO Tony Fernandes. Six new routes will open from Kuala Lumpur to airports in China namely Tianjin, Chendu, Xian, and Chongquin. Tianjin is only 30 mins from Beijing and offers a good low cost alternative to the full service airlines that use the main Beijing International airport. Xian is the gateway to all things Terracotta Warriers etc. Dhaka in Bangladesh will see Air Asia’s arrival in March and Taipei and Kaoshing in Taiwan make up the full set.
To be able to cope with these additional flights Air Asia will be taking delivery of 20 more new Airbus A320’s of which six will go to the airlines long haul sister airline Air Asia X.
The budget airline is also changing it’s seating policy. In an effort to get away from the onboard "bun fight" as passengers clamour for their desired seat Air Asia has assigned seats that can be booked in advance. So called "hot seats" are in the front five rows and the two rows nearest the overwing emergency exits where, in total, 42 pre bookable seats are available.
Customers wanting pre seat assignment, but nit the hot seats, can opt to book a "standard seat" in the remainder of the aircraft. Those passengers who don’t pre book get whats left!!
This of course does come at extra cost with hot seats costing the huge amount 250 baht each way (appx £5.00!!!) and the standard seats 150 bhat-about £3.00. Now that really does have to be some of the best value around if specific seating is important to you. Hot Seat passengers also benefit from Xpress Boarding of the aircraft ahead of other customers.