KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): Low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd has started flying out of Johor Baru's Senai International Airport to Macau, China and Kolkata, India.

The seven times weekly direct service to Macau and five times weekly direct service to Kolkata are the fourth and fifth new routes launched by the airline into Johor this year, after Jakarta, Kuala Terengganu and Langkawi.

In a statement today, AirAsia said the latest development further solidified its commitment in expanding its southern Malaysian hub, besides adding two more Airbus A320s at Senai airport by the end of this year.
 
“By adding new international links to the state, we hope to attract more foreign investments into Johor Baru, subsequently turning the state into a high-value regional tourism destination," AirAsia head of commercial Spencer Lee said.

"Since 2010, AirAsia has flown about 12 million passengers in and out of Johor Baru and this success would not be possible without the continuous support and cooperation from the Johor state government and Senai airport,” he added.
 
Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Md Derick Basir said the airport is anticipating to capture more travellers from China and Hong Kong through Macau, as well as to tap the travellers from other metropolitan cities in India, Bangladesh and Nepal by linking to Kolkata.
 
AirAsia currently operates 161 weekly flights one-way into Johor Baru. In addition to Macau and Kolkata, the airline also flies from Johor Baru to Bangkok, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Surabaya, as well as nine other domestic routes from Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Terengganu, Penang, Langkawi, Kuching, Miri, Tawau, Sibu and Kota Kinabalu.

AirAsia shares closed two sen or 0.65% lower at RM3.08 today, with 7.45 million shares traded, for a market capitalisation of RM10.33 billion. Year-to-date, the stock has risen 45.2%.