Malaysia's LCC Air Asia X to Launch Direct Regular Flights Osaka-Honolulu Effective June

Osaka is about to link direct to Honolulu for the first time by LCC  in June, it was disclosed at press interview, February 10.

Malaysia's LCC, Air Asia X,  is scheduled to launch 4 regular flights per week between the cities starting June 28 this year. Fares are expected to be some 30% off the standard fares, and the company plans to celebrate the occasion with a discount one-way ticket for 12,900 yen if reserved by 26th this month. Air Asia X is the first LCC to fly regularly between Japan and Hawaii.

Benyamin Ismail, CEO of Air Asia X, comments:

"We consider it our mission to popularize long-distance trips. We are anxious to offer high-quality services the lowest in cost in the region."

Vice President Emanuel Munct of the Kansai Airport, the company that operates the  New Kansai International Airport, remarks:

"The forthcoming launch of new regular flights in the Hawaii route opens a fresh vista for the NKIA offering new options to our customers. 

"We certainly expect more to take advantage of the new option."

The flights cover Kuala Lumpur-Osaka in 7 hours and Osaka-Honolulu in 14 hours - totalling 21 hours. Airbus A300-300s will fly the route.

Emanuel Munct, CEO, explains the flights stop over Osaka to pick up US-bound passengers who he figures will presumably be 80-90% Japanese tourists.
Benyamin Ismail, CEO of Air Asia X, indicated an ad hoc schedule during the summer season to fly the route daily to cater for more seasonal Japanese tourists visiting Hawaii.

Meanwhile, Tony Fernandes, CEO of the Air Asia Group, plans to open a route also to London within this year, and farther to Europe, America and Africa later on. (Nathan Shiga) 

Source: NHK