To further boost tourism and economic growth in the area, AirAsia, the Asian airline, has announced a major increase in its domestic and international flight frequencies with 3,281 flights weekly as a Group* spanning 10 ASEAN countries. The statement was made in conjunction with today's 57th ASEAN Day event, organized by AirAsia RedQ and the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The airline also announced that it will begin operating four weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Da Lat, Vietnam, on November 1, 2024. This route reopening to one of the most gorgeous cities in Vietnam—known for its temperate climate, stunning scenery, and rich cultural legacy—is a component of AirAsia's larger plan to strengthen its network and offer more reasonably priced ASEAN travel options.
Offering more flexible travel alternatives, higher frequencies, and restored routes are anticipated to improve tourism considerably. As a result, there will be more visitors, more money spent at neighbourhood establishments, and more jobs in the tourism industry. Accordingly, AirAsia MOVE and the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), represented by its president Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, inked a collaboration agreement that will bolster ASEANTA's backing for the ASEAN Explorer Pass, AirAsia MOVE's flagship travel subscription service, in terms of endorsement and member association outreach as well as the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations.
"In 2023, AirAsia carried over 61 million guests, with over 33 per cent travelling across ASEAN," stated Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group. With over 60% of the destinations being new and distinctive, the airline has been a revolutionary force in ASEAN over the years, democratizing air travel for millions of people while exposing them to both the well-traveled routes and undiscovered treasures of the area's tourism industry.
With significant hubs in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia, our operational footprint is growing as a result of our unshakable faith in the strength and unity of ASEAN as an economic bloc. We are proud to support the goal of the ASEAN Economic Community, which seeks to unite the market and production base. Having shared standards—one engineering system, one air traffic control system, an open skies policy, and common ownership—will help lower our expenses.
"We will keep bolstering our footprint in this vibrant area, which is home to more than 700 million people, as an airline that genuinely believes in connecting the globe to Asean and Asean to the world. We are eager to use our wide network, higher frequencies, and strong operating capabilities throughout the region to promote more collaboration and integration among member states, strengthening the region's interconnection. Looking ahead, we hope to have 75 million passengers this year, with the Asian region accounting for half of these travellers."
The airline is offering exceptionally low rates starting at RM49 all-in* one way to several destinations, including Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan, Padang, Labuan Bajo, Pattaya, Vientiane, Sihanoukville, Da Nang, and more in honour of this year's ASEAN Day. Bookings for the promotional fare for travel between October 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, can be made on the AirAsia MOVE app (previously airasia Superapp) and airasia.com starting today and ending on August 11, 2024.
The ASEAN Explorer Pass, which was introduced earlier this year, is a yearly travel pass that entitles holders to hotel discounts, ground transportation connectivity through AirAsia Ride, and the ability to explore the entire ASEAN region through AirAsia's domestic and international** flight network.
*All prices include fuel surcharges, airport taxes, MAVCOM fees, and other relevant costs; they are exclusively for one-way travel. Depending on regulatory clearance. There are additional terms and conditions routes inside ASEAN nations that are not in the nation of residence.