KUALA LUMPUR (March 30): Low-cost carrier AirAsia, whose parent company Capital A Bhd shares jumped 10.29% ahead of Malaysia’s border reopening on Friday (April 1), plans to reinstate five more routes between Malaysia and Singapore beginning April 16.
In a statement on Wednesday (March 30), the airline said the plan is in line with the Singapore government’s announcement of a vaccinated travel framework.
Apart from increasing its Singapore-Kuala Lumpur daily frequency from one to four times, it will also resume flights between Singapore and the following destinations: Kuching, Miri, Langkawi, Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu.
AirAsia had previously launched a vaccinated travel lane (VTL) flight for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur and Singapore-Penang sectors.
“AirAsia applauds the exemplary new framework set by the Singapore government. As seen by the success of previous VTL schemes, we hope that the removal of travel restrictions with only minimal testing requirements will make vaccinated travelling easier for everyone," said AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer Riad Asmat.
“To ensure we fulfil the pent-up demand for air travel across the region, AirAsia is working closely with industry players and government bodies, especially the Singapore Tourism Board, with whom we are collaborating on joint promotional campaigns and leveraging each other’s travellers database to drive more arrivals into Singapore.
“AirAsia will continue to work closely with the Singapore government as the region transitions into the endemic phase of Covid-19, and we look forward to mounting more flights connecting the republic and the rest of Asean,” he added.
AirAsia is encouraging all guests to migrate and upgrade to the all-in-one airasia Super App for a seamless and contactless self-check-in.
Its counter check-in service will be strictly for exempted categories of guests only at all airports in Malaysia from April 1, 2022.
“Among the exempted groups are senior citizens aged 70 and above, people with disabilities registered with the [Social] Welfare Department, young passengers travelling alone, group bookings of 10 guests and more, charter flight passengers and more,” it said.
Shares of AirAsia’s parent company Capital A Bhd was the second most active counter on Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, rising 10.29% or 7 sen to settle at 75 sen. At its last close, the aviation group has a market capitalisation of RM3.1 billion.
In anticipation of Malaysia’s border reopening on April 1, shares of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd also caught investor interest – it emerged as the top gainer across Bursa Malaysia with a gain of 50 sen or 7.75% to RM6.95, valuing the airport operator at RM11.53 billion.