Air Asia can now fly to Paris

08 October 2009

PARIS: France has given the green light for Air Asia to land in Paris, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said here.

The Prime Minister said this was conveyed to him by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday during what he described as an "extremely good" between them at the presidential residence, Palais de l'Elysee near the Champs-Elysees in Western Paris.

Najib, who had called on Sarkozy at the end of his four-day visit to France, said further details on this will be discussed at the officers' level.

"What is important is that the President had agreed to a request that I raised during our meeting," he told Malaysian journalists at the Four Seasons Hotel George V late this evening before leaving for home.

On Tuesday, Najib raised Air Asia's application for landing rights at Orly Airport in Paris when he met with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

He impressed on the Fillon the fact that the airline is the Airbus A320 biggest customer in the world.

"It is therefore most appropriate that Air Asia's application be given consideration," Najib had told Malaysian journalists later.

Najib arrived in Paris on Oct 4, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, In his entourage were Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman, Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi and Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.