Monday, September 08, 2008

AirAsia X unfazed by high fuel costs, airline failures


KUALA LUMPUR: Long-haul budget airline AirAsia X said it will not hit the wall like other low-cost carriers, with ticket sales strong despite faltering economies and high fuel costs.

AirAsia X chief executive officer, Azran Osman-Rani, said that while there was an overall “dampening in consumer demand for travel,” the carrier’s low fares meant it was unscathed by the downturn.

He said the carrier’s operating costs are low compared to other airlines, and that it would not meet the fate of UK-Canadian carrier Zoom and Hong Kong-based Oasis, which have gone under in recent months.

“We are a low-fare carrier. There is a big demand for travel at the prices we offer,” he told AFP in a recent interview.

Aviation experts have expressed cautious optimism over the business model of AirAsia X, which has fares generally half those offered by full-service carriers.

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