AirAsia X (website: www.airasia.com) has confirmed that when it begins operating flights to the UK next month its preferred base would be London Stansted Airport.
The Malaysian carrier had already announced that it will fly to the British capital from next March and is now highlighting the connectivity benefits of Stansted.
Located approximately 38 miles north-east of London, the airport is a major hub for low-cost carriers and presently serves nearly 24 million passengers each year.
Speaking to reporters during the 14th World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur, chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani confirmed: “We hope to announce this year the start of sales for the flight to London.”
However, he declined to state that the airline would definitely request landing and take-off slots at Stansted, insisting that it is still finalising operational details for the inaugural flight.
Speaking further about the airline’s current financial standing, Osman-Rani said he expected procurement of its new aircraft fleet to proceed as planned, adding: “Operationally, things are going well.”
AirAsia X began flying in November 2007 and presently operates flights to Australia: The Gold Coast, Perth and Hangzhou in China.
