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AirAsia X unveils no-frills
KL route with £99 fares
Chris Gray.
Hong Kong Airlines, which collapsed earlier this
THE FOUNDER of new long-haul no-frills airline year, he said.
AirAsia X has shrugged off the failure of Oasis AirAsia X will also stick more closely to the
Hong Kong Airlines and steep rises in tax on no-frills model than Oasis, he said.
long-haul flights. It will operate a five-times-a-week service
Tony Fernandes launched his airline in London using one Airbus A340 aircraft with 286 seats.
this week, promising one-way flights between These will include 30 premium XL seats (which
Stansted and Kuala Lumpur starting at £99, give extra leg-room) starting at £549.
including taxes, from March 11 next year. AirAsia X insists its long-haul no-frills service can succeed The service will be the same in all seats and
Despite Monday’s announcement of steep passengers will have to pay for meals.
rises in APD that will see tax on flights to Fernandes is also chief executive of AirAsia X’s Fernandes claimed the airline intended to
Malaysia rise from £40 now to £55 next Novem- parent company AirAsia. He said the subsidiary order enough aircraft so it could ultimately run a
ber and £85 in 2010, Fernandes insisted his air- would be able to feed into its parent carrier’s “shuttle” service of about five departures a day.
line could succeed where rivals like Oasis failed. network from Kuala Lumpur operating across Fares will be available on Amadeus and
He said he would have to pass the tax rise on but south-east Asia, China and Australasia. Galileo, but GDS fares will be slightly higher than
claimed he could keep the lowest fare to £120. That would guarantee more traffic than Oasis those on the AirAsia X website.
Hays conference
Viking plans to
to provide advice
sail on the Nile
HAYS Travel Independence Group members will
be given tips on how to be more efficient to VIKING River Cruises is planning to enter the Nile
“win in a challenging environment”, which is cruise market and is in discussions with a local
the theme of this week’s conference in Spain. shipyard about building a vessel.
Speaking ahead of the Marbella conference, The US operator owns 21 ships that it operates
managing director John Hays said that in tough along the main rivers in Europe, as well as two
economic times members needed a practical, luxury vessels in China. However, it does not
workshop-based event. operate in the sector’s biggest market, Egypt.
“In the past we have had entrepreneurial Viking UK chairman Graham Clubb said talks
speakers talking about general business were taking place with a partner in Egypt and a
themes at the conference, but we anticipate new-build could be ready by 2011.
2009 to be a really tough year,” he said. Clubb said Viking insists on owning its ships
“Our role at this conference is to do as much and will not launch into Egypt unless it can
as we can to help our members in practical guarantee it can operate a product that matches
terms so that they can survive and flourish in a its standards in other destinations.
challenging environment. Viking is also expanding into overseas markets.
“Our objective is for each member to take It recently opened an office in Australia where it
away at least two practical tips or things they DOWN WONDER: Travel 2, Qantas and believes there is a strong over-60s market keen
can implement to make their businesses more Tourism Australia have teamed up to help to travel to Europe and China.
efficient.” agents capitalise on Australia, the new Baz The line has also spent £3 million upgrading its
Hays commercial director Jill Gardner will Luhrmann film starring Nicole Kidman and Russian ships creating larger suites.
talk about the new Financial Services Authority Hugh Jackman. Travel 2 has produced a And next year it will launch Viking Legend, set
regulations on travel insurance sales. free selling guide for agents and is offering to be the largest ship on the Rhine.
Hays Beds director Nigel Hebron will unveil a free visas. Pictured here are Travel 2 mar- A partnership with Eurostar this year had
new inhouse selling system. keting director Alasdair Farrimond (left) proved successful, Clubb claimed.
And John Hays will talk about the importance and Tourism Australia UK distribution
of retaining customers and marketing. manager Ben Janeczko unveiling the guide ■ Viking buoyed by strong 2009 sales, p20
28.11.2008 09
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