AirAsia boosts Southeast Asia connectivity, as Vistara operates 787s to Bali

Asia-Pacific airlines have beefed up their route networks amid robust travel demand, with AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Korean Air, and Tigerair Taiwan launching new routes. Low-cost carrier AirAsia Malaysia plans to resume its service between Kuala Lumpur and Vientiane in Laos from 2 July, which it claims will make it the only carrier to offer direct services to all 10 countries in the ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations – grouping. The airline will operate the service twice weekly. “We have not only made travel accessible for millions in ASEAN but also contributed significantly to the economies of these nations,” says AirAsia Aviation Group CE Bo Lingam. “As an ASEAN airline, we will continue to champion its integration through the continued support of the ASEAN open skies policy to increase regional and domestic connectivity and enhance ASEAN trade opportunities through the liberalisation of air travel under the single, unified air transport market.” Another AirAsia unit, Thai AirAsia, has taken advantage of visa-free travel between China and Thailand with a new daily Bangkok Don Mueang-Beijing service, it’s 12th destination in China. The carrier adds that for the first two months of 2024 it has enjoyed 93% load factors on its China network. AirAsia’s long-haul, low-cost affiliate, AirAsia X, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan Tourism to collaborate on partnerships that promote tourism between Malaysia and the central Asian nation. The MOU follows the airline’s launch of a four-times-weekly service between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty.<br/>