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Perth the next stop as low-cost carrier AirAsia X returns to the skies

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Geoffrey ThomasThe West Australian
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After two years on the ground Air Asia X backers say the low-cost carrier is back better than ever ... and it’s charting a course back to Perth.
Camera IconAfter two years on the ground Air Asia X backers say the low-cost carrier is back better than ever ... and it’s charting a course back to Perth. Credit: Supplied/AirAsia

Low-cost giant AirAsia X is back in the skies with expanded services to London, Dubai and Istanbul this year — with Perth to be announced shortly.

The airline has also announced four new routes to Japan and Hawaii, which are all on sale from Wednesday.

Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, executive chairman of Capital A, which backs AirAsia, and founder of AirAsiaX, said the airline returned to the skies “refreshed and rejuvenated”.

“The resumption of four popular medium-haul routes and announcement of three new long-haul services today is a significant milestone following the most challenging time in aviation history,” he said.

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“We are thrilled to return to London and to launch flights for the first time to Dubai and Istanbul.”

Capital A president commercial Colin Currie said the group would support AirAsia X — including using the airasia Super App, its cargo business Teleport, fintech arm BigPay and all of the other airlines in the AirAsia Aviation Group — to take the discount carrier to new heights.

AirAsia X chief executive Benyamin Ismail said the airline was “back, better and stronger than ever”.

“We have spent the downtime in flying reviewing every aspect of the operation to deliver even greater value and choice for medium and long-haul travel,” he said.

“Now that international borders are reopening across the world, we are able to resume operations to our most popular destinations including Australia, Japan, Hawaii, India and South Korea first.

“I am confident all of our resumed or new services will prove to be very popular and that we will return to pre-COVID capacity on some of our core routes within the next 12 months.

Mr Ismail said the return of Perth and Melbourne services to Kuala Lumpur would be announced shortly.

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