AirAsia X's BIG MOVE to klia2

SEPANG - AirAsia X Bhd, the long-haul low-cost arm of AirAsia Group, is working around the clock to prepare for the big move to its new home at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) on May 9.

The airline's chief executive, Azran Osman Rani told Business Times that the move will be in two stages, including the overnight physical move to the airport and the setting up of their operations there.

The airline will move some 20 of its wide-body Airbus A330-300 over a 10km distance from the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) to klia2.

AirAsia X will start its first operations at the new airport with flight D7 504 to Seoul on May 9.

"I appreciate the fact that klia2 will take us to a whole new level than LCCT," Azran said in an exclusive interview.

However, AirAsia X would not be fully ready to settle in its new home by Friday as it would have to wait to obtain a few permits such as the renovation and local council permits, which are not immediately forthcoming.

The airline would also have to wait for weeks to get the permit for the antennas that will be used to communicate with its aircraft.

Thus, AirAsia X would have to operate at both klia2 and LCCT for the time being until it can completely move to the new airport.

The airline's operations team, which deals with the day-to-day operations will move to klia2 while the corporate team will remain at LCCT, said Azran.

"As inconvenient as it is, we are going to have to bear with that and we will have to make do with what we can...AirAsia is building its own office there (at klia2) but I don't think it will be ready until late next year," he added.

AirAsia X and AirAsia Bhd have agreed last month to move to klia2 on may 9 after both airlines voiced concerns over the safety issues at the airport.

Klia2, which is the first airport in the world to be inspected by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), has finally open its doors to the public on May 2 with Malindo Airways being the first flight to arrive and land on the new runway 3 at the stroke of midnight on the same day.

Meanwhile, AirAsia X announced in a statement that it has appointed Datuk Bernard Francis as its new commercial director to oversee and drive the airline's commercial department.

This includes the revenue management, sales and distribution, marketing, communication and events, branding, route and network planning as well as ancillary revenue.

Prior to AirAsia X, Francis was the commercial director for Indonesia AirAsia, an affiliate of AirAsia Group.

He brings with him 14 years of experience in the aviation industry with expertise in revenue management as well as sales and marketing.

-NST