An affordable new way to Europe via KL and Istanbul

Looking for an affordable trip from Australia to Europe?

If you don't mind a couple of stopovers, AirAsia is expanding its international connectivity with the launch of its first-ever codeshare partnership with Türkiye’s largest low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, opening up seamless connections between south-east Asia and Europe via Istanbul.

The partnership brings together two LCC powerhouses from Asean and Europe, connecting AirAsia’s extensive network across Asean and Asia with Pegasus’ broad European network through its Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen hub.

What does this mean for Australian travellers?

* Affordable travel from Australia to more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe - kicking off with five European destinations - Stansted (London, UK), Vnukovo (Moscow, Russia), Esenboga (Ankara, Türkiye), Zurich (Switzerland) and Athens (Greece)

* Greater access to destinations across Asean and Europe via the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen hub.

* Special promo fares for flights from Kuala Lumpur to the first five destinations via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, from $276*, all-in-one-way. That can connect from Perth to Kuala Lumpur from $180 or Melbourne from $387 all-in-one-way

* Flexibility to tailor your trip and only pay for the things that matter to you - seat selection, baggage, food and beverage.

# Flights from Australia onwards to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen require a transfer in Kuala Lumpur. I'd stay a night or two.

Book through AirAsia MOVE between September 2-6 for travel from today to March 2027. Fares include passenger service charge, regulatory service charges, fuel surcharges, other applicable fees, and 20kg checked baggage allowance.

AirAsia adds Australian flights but cuts Sydney

Good news for some Australian lovers of low-coast flights, but bad news for those based in Sydney

AirAsia today announced it is strengthening its network with planned frequency increases across its Perth–Denpasar, Perth-Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne-Kuala Lumpur services.

But as part As part of the rationalisation, the airline has made the "difficult decision" to suspend its Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route.

The decision reflects a combination of increased cost pressures, softer demand and the need to strategically align the airline’s network and fleet, the airline said in a media statement.

From December, Perth–Denpasar services will increase to 35 flights per week, while the strong performance of Melbourne–Kuala Lumpur will see the route return to daily services.

Perth–Kuala Lumpur has also experienced significant growth, with frequencies set to steadily increase to 14 flights per week.

Benyamin Ismail, general manager of AirAsia X said the decision was not made lightly, and acknowledged the Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route is key to supporting Fly-Thru and serves customers who travel to visit friends and family across ASEAN.

“This has been an incredibly difficult decision, and one that has not been taken lightly," he said.

"Sydney, which was launched back in 2012, has played an important role in our history and in connecting Australians with Malaysia and the wider region.

“The current operating environment requires us to make some tough choices. By accelerating the retirement of older, less fuel-efficient widebody aircraft and adjusting our network, we are taking the necessary steps to build a more resilient and commercially sustainable operation for the future.

“We understand how disappointing this will be for our guests, particularly those who have travelled with us over many years, and we sincerely thank them for their understanding and support."

The airline's teams are contacting affected customers from today, offering refunds which will be completed within 14 days, a Credit Account or date changes.

AirAsia recognised for consistent performance

I've flown several times with AirAsia, both long-haul and short-haul, and find the budget carrier consistently delivers exactly what it promises.

It's no frills. But the price is right.

AirAsia was earlier this month named Airline of the Year - International at the Australian Aviation Awards, the third time it has been honoured.

Benyamin Ismail, general manager AirAsia X, said it was an honour that reflects the airline's ongoing commitment to innovation and its people.

"Winning Airline of the Year - International at the Australian Aviation Awards for a third time is an incredible honour and recognition of the work our Allstars have put into continually improving the experience we deliver for our guests," he said.

"Over the past year we've invested across every aspect of our business, most notably from a digital and operational perspective.

"We have made significant investment in new technologies and AI to help streamline processes, especially in our customer experience and journey through our AirAsia MOVE website and app. We are continuously optimising our operations to find efficiencies, allowing us to remain competitive so we can stay true to our mission of making travel accessible to everyone.

“None of what we've achieved would be possible without our people. Our Allstars come to work every day united by a shared ambition to make AirAsia the world's most connected low-cost airline. We've invested heavily in creating a workplace where our people can thrive because we know that when our Allstars succeed, so do our guests. It's incredibly rewarding to see that commitment recognised alongside the work we're doing to transform the travel experience.”

Ismail acknowledged the importance of Australia within AirAsia's global network.

"Australia is one of AirAsia's most important international markets and has played a significant role in our growth over the years," he said. "We'd like to sincerely thank the Australian Aviation Awards for this honour. To be recognised alongside so many respected airlines and aviation businesses is a privilege, and we'll continue striving to deliver even greater value and connectivity for Australian travellers."

In 2025, AirAsia Group carried more than 68 million passengers across its 150 destinations, strengthening its position as one of the world's leading low-cost airline groups.

Air Asia remains upbeat

The airline industry has different positions on the future, but AirAsia X says it remains encouraged by resilient travel demand across key markets, supported by ongoing regional stabilisation. 

The budget airline said this week that it continues to focus on strengthening operational performance and network efficiency, building a more scalable operating model across the network.

The group is progressively restoring aircraft frequencies and capacity across its network, with full capacity expected by August 2026. 

It has announced services to several new destinations, including Busan, Bahrain, London, Batam and other domestic destinations. 

Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Group said: "Over the past several months, we have been reminded that resilience is not built during easy times but through how we respond to challenges. 

"Throughout this period, the group remained focused on strengthening our operations, improving efficiency and accelerating the adoption of AI and data-driven tools to support better decision-making and smarter execution across the business. 

"Today, we are a stronger, more agile and more focused ecosystem because of it."

AirAsia cancels flights from Australia

Budget airline AirAsia has announced a decision to suspend services between Melbourne and Adelaide and Denpasar in Bali.

Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, general manager of Indonesia AirAsia, said the current operating environment has made these routes "no longer viable".

“This decision has been made in response to the sustained increase in global jet fuel prices caused by the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East," he said.

"This operating environment has led to the need to re-focus our network on routes that remain operationally viable at this time.

“AirAsia understands the suspension impacts long-made travel plans and we apologise for the inconvenience this decision has caused, and we want to thank our guests for their support and understanding.”

The airline's teams are contacting affected customers directly, detailing the options available.

Where possible, AirAsia is committed to getting guests to their destination either through date changes, or via its Kuala Lumpur hub.

The last flights operating between Melbourne to Denpasar and Adelaide to Denpasar will be on June 18. The impacted services are operated by Indonesia AirAsia.

AirAsia X reaffirms Bahrain plans amid global volatility

AirAsia X is banking on the Middle East soon returning to normal and has confirmed plans to develop Bahrain as a key strategic hub, connecting travellers between Asia, the Middle East and Europe. 

The service is scheduled to commence on June 26, with the budget airline expressing optimism that  conditions in the region will normalise by then. 

The AirAsia group today also announced increased capacity to strong-performing and higher-yielding routes, such as to Almaty (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Istanbul (Türkiye), aiming to capture displaced demand.

Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia X said: “While we are operating in an increasingly challenging environment, we are seeing strong demand across our Asean destinations, which demonstrates the resilience of our network and the growing appetite for regional travel. 

"This reinforces our focus on Kuala Lumpur as a key aviation hub and its position as a global low-cost carrier (LCC) megahub, connecting travellers seamlessly and affordably across the region.

“Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain disruptions, global jet fuel prices have surged to more than double 2025 levels. In response, we have implemented carefully calibrated fare adjustments, including a one-off fuel surcharge across the network. 

"We are optimising our network, reallocating capacity to stronger-performing routes and leveraging our Fly-Thru connectivity via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to capture demand efficiently.

“We are also actively negotiating with our key partners and stakeholders to contain costs across our operations. 

"As we progressively reactivate our full fleet, our unit cost will improve, and the strengthening Asean currencies also act as a natural buffer against USD-denominated expenses.”

Airline warns against online scammers

A major low-cost airline has warned flyers to remain vigilant against scams involving fake customer service contacts circulating on social media.

AirAsia's advisory followed the circulation of online posts displaying a phone number falsely claimed to be an official AirAsia customer service line.

AirAsia confirmed that the number is not affiliated with the airline and is suspected to be part of a scam targeting travellers seeking assistance with their bookings.

AirAsia clarified that it does not operate customer service via phone calls and urged customers to be vigilant about anyone claiming to represent the airline. 

All official customer support services are available either through the AskBo bot, or the airline’s digital support platform.

Guests can access AskBo via the AirAsia MOVE app or through AirAsia’s official digital platforms to receive assistance with flight bookings, schedule changes, travel information and other services.

AirAsia encourages travellers to always verify information through official AirAsia channels, including the airline’s website and verified social media accounts, especially during the peak Hari Raya travel period.

Customers are encouraged to visit www.airasia.com or access the AirAsia MOVE app.

AirAsia boosts Australian flight frequency

 

AirAsia is boosting its presence across major Australian gateways with a series of new flights. 

The moves reflect sustained demand and growing consumer confidence in AirAsia for Australians travelling to Bali, Kuala Lumpur and destinations across the broader AirAsia network, AirAsia said in a statement. 

Adelaide-Bali frequency will increase from 4x to 7x weekly from today, rising to 10x weekly during peak periods, creating more than 56,000 seats per year through Adelaide Airport.

AirAsia’s inaugural flight from Bali to Melbourne touched down this morning, marking the start of the daily connection between the two cities.

The service, operated by Indonesia AirAsia, which is part of AirAsia Group, is the latest network expansion for the low cost carrier in Australia.

Operating daily with an Airbus A320, the service will add more than 130,000 seats annually through Melbourne Airport.

Flights to Kuala Lumpur from both Sydney and Melbourne are now operating daily, with premium cabins and flatbed seating options

Perth-Bali is operating four times daily (28x weekly) operating year round, while Perth-Kuala Lumpur will have double daily departures increasing to three daily during peak periods. 

The bad news is for Northern Territory flyers with Darwin-Kuala Lumpur and Darwin-Bali flights suspended for 12 months from April 28 due to low demand. 

Carrying close to 1 million guests between Australia and Asia annually, AirAsia operated 69x total weekly frequencies across the major Australian hubs of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in 2025. 

Through its Fly-Thru product, the airline offers travellers access to its extensive onward network of more than 150 destinations. 

Amanda Woo, Chief Commercial Officer of AirAsia X, said the network enhancements reflect the airline's long-term commitment to Australia and its travellers. 

"Australia is an incredibly important market for AirAsia, and we are continuing to strengthen our network in a disciplined way, utilising our aircraft for popular and high-capacity routes where there is increasing demand,” she said. 

"The scale of what we are building in Australia is significant. We are not just adding seats, we are giving Australians genuinely affordable access to Asia and the world, from four major cities, with more to come. 

"We understand that the suspension of our Darwin routes impacts travel plans and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. The capacity will be redeployed to other Australian destinations, further strengthening AirAsia's commitment to the market." 

AirAsia eyes Gulf hub as it ponders return to Europe

Malaysia-based low cost carrier AirAsia is looking to expand its flight destinations into Europe.

AirAsia has plans to establish an airport hub in the Arabian Gulf, giving it a stepping stone to resume European flights after a long absence.

It is eyeing one-stop flights from Kuala Lumpur to London Gatwick among other major cities.

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said talks were held with government officials from some Gulf states recently, but no location has yet been decided.

“From there, Europe is a shorter distance," he told the Financial Times. "We can then start looking at those kinds of exciting, longer-haul fares, and start taking people around the world through a one-stop and multi-hop strategy."

The airline has tried non-stop flights to Europe previously, including to London and Paris, but found the high costs a negative factor.

Costs are a major factor in the Asia market with rival Jetstar Asia recently announcing it will shut down.

“I think destinations that decide that they’re premium are missing out on a big market," Fernandes added.

"We’re going back to the Ryanair strategy of looking at alternative airports to serve those markets.”

AirAsia currently only has about 8% of its passenger traffic taking connecting flights.

It hopes to significantly grow this.

“Airlines such as ours have just been point to point, but a shift could be a very, very profitable part of the business for us,” Fernandes said.

Cheap fares on offer from AirAsia

Budget airline AirAsia is celebrating its 23rd birthday by offering 23% off fares across its network.

That includes all fares to and from Australia with tariffs starting from $169.

Over 150 destinations include Shenzhen, DaLat, Sihanoukville, Nairobi and Almaty.

This exclusive discount is available now on airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app until December 1 only

Guests can plan their new year travel for 2025, between January 6 and June 30, 2025.

The airline recently celebrated at the World Travel Awards (WTA), winning the titles of ‘World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline’ and ‘World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew’ for the 12th year and eighth year consecutively.

Fare examples include:
Sydney to Kuala Lumpur all-in one-way fare from $339

Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur all-in one-way fare from $309

Perth to Kuala Lumpur all-in one-way fare from $199

Sydney to Bangkok all-in one-way fare from $359

Cairns to Bali all-in one-way fare from $199

*Fares are all inclusive of airfares and taxes and charges. Other terms and conditions may apply. 

AirAsia Group boosts its fleet

AirAsia has continued its rapid bounce back post pandemic with the AirAsia Group today announcing the delivery of four brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft.

The additions expand the airline’s total fleet to 221 aircraft.

With the addition of these four A321neos, AirAsia now has eight operational A321neos serving AirAsia Malaysia and Thailand.

As the longest-fuselage aircraft of the Airbus’ single-aisle A320 fleet, the A321neo’s advanced technology and fuel efficiency align perfectly with AirAsia’s goals of reducing operational costs while maintaining a superior travel experience for its guests, the airline said in a statement.

The aircraft's versatility allows it to land at smaller airports, serve secondary cities, and scale up operations with 30% lower costs compared to wide-body aircraft.

The much anticipated arrival of the four aircraft saw the immediate commencement of its flight operations across the two airlines, while providing greater flexibility on short to medium-haul routes such as Kuching, Tawau, Shenzhen, Kunming, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, and more.

“This year marks a pivotal year for AirAsia's growth as we resume our Airbus A321neo deliveries, aligning with the strong forecast demand," said Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group.

"These new aircraft are game-changers, allowing us to enhance our route network, offer longer-range flights, and improve operational efficiency.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate our fleet to exceed 300 aircraft within the next five years, carrying over 100 million guests annually. This expansion marks the beginning of AirAsia’s new era as the world's first low-cost network carrier, with the aim to connect Asean with the world and vice versa.”

In the first half of 2024, AirAsia launched 20 new routes across the group, serving over 130 destinations and carrying more than 31 million guests.

AirAsia slashes fares to popular destinations

Want to fly on the cheap? Prepared to book months ahead?

Budget carrier AirAsia today announced the launch of its Big Sale promotion - the first for 2024 - which it says includes millions of seats to more than 130 destinations discounted.

Some tickets are priced at just the cost of just the taxes and charges.

International tickets from Australia to the capitals of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand start from just $129.

From AirAsia’s major hub in Kuala Lumpur there are fares to popular Malaysian destinations including Langkawi, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Penang, starting from only RM28 one-way (under $10).

For those a little more adventurous, AirAsia is extending the Big Sale on flights to destinations across Asia and beyond, with starting fares from Kuala Lumpur from just RM299 (under $100) to Taipei, Seoul, New Delhi, Almaty in Kazakhstan and others.

Seats booked during this campaign are for travel between September 1, 2024, and June 18, 2025, and can be booked via the airasia Superapp or www.airasia.com.

Stay tuned to all-things-AirAsia via the instagram page @flyairasia.

Here are some of the fares on offer (economy one way): Sydney to Bangkok (Savarnabhumi) from $299, Sydney or Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur from $269, Perth to Denpasar (Bali) from $139, Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur from $269. Terms and conditions apply.

It is the time of the year for travel discounts

It is that time of the year. Right across the travel industry, operators are keen to sell you a trip before they close for the Christmas-New Year holiday.

This week I got news of deals from Riviera Travel River Cruises and AirAsia.

Luxury European cruise line Riviera Travel River Cruises reaches its 40-year milestone in 2024 and is celebrating with discounts for its Australian guests on new sailings.

For all 2024 and 2025 sailings booked between now and December 31, guests will get $1,000 per person off on seven-night cruises and $1,500 off on 10-14-night sailings.

Guests who book in this period will also enjoy a complimentary superior drinks package for all sailings in 2024-2025, along with complimentary wifi and complimentary shore excursions.

Stuart Milan from Riviera Travel said: “We’re excited that we are offering our best-ever promotion to fans of River Cruises in the Australian market, we are confident that you will enjoy our award-winning service.”

Cruises on offer include the Rhine, the Danube, or the Douro.

Prices start from $1,199) per person for a seven-night Burgundy, Rhone and Provence river cruise.

Riviera Travel’s fleet of 12 luxury ships is also one of the youngest in Europe, with no ship older than six years. See www.rivieratravel.com.au.

AirAsia, meanwhile, this week announced its Black Friday sale with fares reduced for travel from now until September 2024 across the Tasman or from Australia and NZ to Asia at discounted prices.

Offers include flying from Auckland or Australia to Malaysia from under $250 or from Sydney to Bangkok from $329.

The AirAsia X Premium Flex lie flat flatbeds are also on sale starting from $339 across the Tasman or from $669 from Australia to Kuala Lumpur.

Fares on sale from now on four AirAsia airlines until November 26. See https://www.airasia.com/

Leading Asian airlines sign up for strategic alliance

Big news in the world of Asian aviation this week with Capital A, the holding company for AirAsia brands, and Garuda Indonesia Group announcing a strategic partnership that should work well for regional flyers.

The leading low-cost airline in the region and the national flag carrier of Indonesia aim to "strengthen the global aviation ecosystem post-pandemic".

The partnership between the two entities will explore network expansion across various business lines, including commercial airline services between AirAsia and Indonesian domestic airline Citilink, logistics services with Teleport and Garuda Indonesia Cargo, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul services.

The MOU signing ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, was attended by Garuda Indonesia president and CEO Irfan Setiaputra and Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes.

“We are witnessing the blossoming of a meaningful partnership between two leading Asean brands that are loved by millions of people in this region, known for best value, quality and choice," said a very enthusiastic Fernandes.

"Our relationship with Garuda began when Citilink joined our Superapp journey. We are excited to further elevate this relationship by pooling our strengths and resources to add more value to people’s lives.”

Setiaputra said the collaboration marks "a significant milestone".

“We believe that after the pandemic, collaboration within the aviation ecosystem is a necessity that should continue to be optimised," he said.

"With this commitment in mind, our collaboration with Capital A is expected not only to provide a solid foundation for the business outlook of both companies but also to strengthen our joint commitment to delivering added value in the best aviation services for the community.”

The partnership will leverage on the depth of close to 50 domestic destinations in Indonesia covered by Citilink with the breadth of AirAsia's 150 international destinations.

Selected routes in early 2024 will provide seamless transfer experience for both inbound and outbound travellers, with checked-through baggage service and issuance of boarding passes from point of origin.

Discussions are also underway between Capital A’s aircraft maintenance provider Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) and Garuda Indonesia’s GMF AeroAsia to further explore opportunities for another strategic partnership.

How to fly to Asia at a discount

AirAsia and AirAsia X have revealed details of another of their flash sales.

As usual, blink and the offers will be gone, so it pays to move quickly.

International airfares are on sale starting from NZD $135 (under AUD $130).

The airlines’ "special" sale - which launches today and runs until August 13 - means guests from New Zealand and Australia will be able to fly from several destinations at discounted fares on flights departing from from October 1 until March 31, 2024.

Among the fares on offer are Perth to Jakarta and Perth to Bali all-in, one-way from $149.

Other discounts include Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur for $249 and flatbed from $929, as well as Melbourne and Sydney to Kuala Lumpur from $299 in economy and $1005 flatbed.

There is also Sydney to Bangkok all-in one-way from $299, Auckland to Kuala Lumpur all-in one-way from NZD $459 and Auckland to Sydney from NZD $135.

From Kuala Lumpur there are connections to Langkawi, Penang, Kota Kinabalu as well as destinations in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China and Vietnam.

All AirAsia airlines are included in the sale: AirAsia X (D7), Thai AirAsia X (XJ), Indonesia AirAsia (QZ). Book through the airasia Superapp. 

AirAsia triumphs for 14th straight year

I have invariably been impressed by AirAsia, as regular readers will be aware. I also recently took an airasia Superapp famil.

I was not surprised, then, to hear this week that AirAsia has been voted the world’s best low-cost airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023 for an unprecedented 14th consecutive time.

The awards results covered over 325 airlines with AirAsia emerging on top in its hotly contested category.

Over 100 nationalities of travellers participated in the online survey, with 20.23 million eligible entries counted in the results from September 2022 to May 2023, a period when AirAsia had steadily increased its network back to over 130 destinations.

In accepting the award at a ceremony at the Paris Air Show 2023 in France on Tuesday, Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes said: “We are immensely proud and grateful for this meaningful award given to us by the Skytrax organisers, voters, and the incredible supporters of AirAsia.

"Getting an award of excellence for 14 consecutive years is a remarkable achievement, one that fills our hearts with joy and humility. This is an extraordinary feat for any company in any industry, even more so for our proudly Asean brand.”

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said: “AirAsia is a survey passenger favourite and has delivered a remarkable degree of consistency year-on-year since the world's best low-cost airline category was introduced to the awards programme in 2010.

"The recognition from customers should be a great source of pride for the airline management and staff in what has been a difficult period as travel returns after the Covid pandemic.”

With 170 planes already back in service across the group, AirAsia expects to have all 204 reactivated by the end of August.

To celebrate AirAsia today launched sales fares from:
$149 from Perth to Bali or Jakarta
$234 from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast direct to Kuala Lumpur
$294 from Sydney direct to Bangkok
From NZ $134 from Auckland to Sydney
From NZD $479 from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur

Using the airasia Superapp to fly with Batik Air

My recent Bali trip - several reports will follow over the next couple of weeks - was courtesy of the airasia Superapp and hotel group Archipelago International.

From starting as a budget airline with just two planes, AirAsia has evolved into a fully-fledged travel superapp and has become one of Asia’s fastest-growing travel platforms.

Not only does the airasia Superapp feature the airlines own products, it also offers flights from over 700 airlines, hotels including more than 900,000 worldwide, ride-hailing services, shopping and more. All in the one place.

My flights did not actually involve an AirAsia flight: I flew from Melbourne into Denpasar with Batik Air, and out with Virgin Australia – both booked through the app.

The recently launched suite of airasia Superapp offerings in Bali highlights one of the airline’s key focus destinations for the Australian market.

The app is described as a “one-stop shop” powered by data and technology – and has been actioned by 51 million users.

Visitors can engage in real-time conversations, join like-minded communities, play games and much more. Well worth a look.

I'd never flown with Batik Air before - and until last year they were known by their previous name of Malindo Air (Malaysia and Indonesia, geddit?).

 

Batik Air is a Malaysian-based regional airline with headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Malindo Air officially rebranded as Batik Air in April 2022 and operates from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Selangor.

The carrier currently operates a fleet of Boeing 737-8, 737-800 and ATR72-600 aircraft for both domestic and international flights.

For short flights like Melbourne-Denpasar, Batik Air is perfectly adequate. My flight had no entertainment screen, or wifi, but we all travel with iPhones or iPads nowadays.

The pre-ordered meal of satay chicken and nasi goreng was passable, though not as good as AirAsia, and the flight arrived on time.

You can pay extra for seats with more leg room should you wish to do so.

Batik Air currently operates out of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and will soon resume flights out of Adelaide.

Cheap and cheerful is the verdict. 

  

 

   

Want to fly to Asia on the cheap?

AirAsia has continued its post-pandemic celebrations with a new Mega Sale featuring 10 million discounted seats across Asia and beyond which are available for booking now to destinations worldwide.

From now until March 19, 2023, all-in fares one way from Sydney and Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur are on sale from $269, from Sydney and Melbourne to Bangkok from just $239, from Auckland to Sydney from $NZ199, from Perth to Bali from $169 and from Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur from just $189.

For those seeking extra comfort, premium flatbeds are also on sale starting from $799 from Perth to Kuala Lumpur and from $NZ559 from Auckland to Sydney.

AirAsia’s fly-through connecting services to popular destinations from Australia are also included in this sale. Fly from Australia (Sydney/Perth/Melbourne/Gold Coast) to Phuket, New Delhi, Manila, Seoul, Kuching, Hanoi and more starting from just $193 all-in fare one way.

In Malaysia, AirAsia’s main hub, domestic fares are also now on sale to many popular leisure favourites from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi, Penang, Johor Bahru and more from under $120.

AirAsia X has flights on sale to many popular international destinations such as from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo or Taipei from under $120.

The Mega Sale prices are only available until Sunday and cover travel dates between September 4, 2023, and July 9, 2024.

Bookings can be made at airasia.com, or via the airasia Super App.

Cambodia to get a new airline with a familiar name

The travel industry is gaining momentum as we reach the final days of 2022.

Over the Covid era I barely heard a word from the AirAsia group. Now they seem to have breaking news just about every day.

AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AAAGL), also known as Capital A, this week signed a joint venture agreement with Sivilai Asia to establish AirAsia Cambodia, a new low-cost airline to operate from Cambodia.

The new airline is aiming to cement AirAsia’s brand in Cambodia and Indochina, providing AirAsia with greater access to its domestic market and connecting to international markets across Asean, North Asia and beyond.

AirAsia Cambodia aims to stimulate the Cambodian aviation and tourism industries, launch new destinations, create jobs and bring low-cost flights to the country.

The agreement was signed by Tony Fernandes, the AirAsia founder, and Vissoth Nam, director of Sivilai Asia, in Phnom Penh.

Subject to obtaining regulatory approvals, the new airline is expected to commence operations in late 2023.

"We continue to focus on Asean, where we know best and our brand is the strongest," Fernandes said.

"Cambodia is the fifth Asean country where we are continuing our march of being the region’s number one mover of people and cargo, and providing a lynchpin of economic growth for Asean countries.

“2022 was about restarting our airline to pre-Covid levels. That machine is in place and will be completed by the second quarter of 2023. The second half of 2023 will be when we focus on our continued efforts in growth.

"We are confident of profitability in the first year. Cambodia is a market that is familiar to us and where we have deep infrastructure in place."

AAAGL operates five routes to Cambodia from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, from Penang to Phnom Penh (starting January 3, 2023) as well as from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Since entering the Cambodian market in 2005, AirAsia has carried over 10 million guests to and from Cambodia.

Be quick to save money on Asian flights

Demand for flights from Australia to Asia is sky high but budget carrier AirAsia is offering 20% off on all seats to selected domestic and international destinations for the next week.

The deal includes travel commencing from November, ahead of the end of year and new year peak travel seasons.

The limited-time-only sale runs until October 23 with a range of destinations in Asia including Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand at 20% off for travel between November 1 and June 30, 2023.

To book click on the Flights icon on the Airasia Super App or website.

AirAsia also announced this week that it is bringing back services to Taipei (from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu) and Kaohsiung (from Kuala Lumpur) which are on sale now starting from as low as $130 one way.

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to/from Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Auckland, Seoul and Tokyo start from under $220 with and premium flatbed seats starting from under $700 for travel between November 1 to November 30.

“AirAsia has been ramping up our capacity to serve more customers to connect with family and friends again in this upcoming festive period," says Karen Chan, AirAsia’s Group Chief Commercial Officer.

“This 20% off deal is providing incredible discounts for close in travel starting next month into the end of year holiday and new year/Chinese New year peak holiday season.

"AirAsia understands that many customers have not had the chance to reconnect with loved ones since the pandemic so we are here to provide great value to to visit family and friends again."

See www.airasia.com for details