Free Seats as AirAsia prepares to launch Flights to Medan and Jakarta from Penang

AirAsia is to launch direct daily international flights to Medan and Jakarta from the city of Penang in Malaysia. The new service which is set to commence on 30th March 2008 to Medan and Jakarta will be AirAsia’s second and third international route from Penang after Bangkok.

Currently there are a total of 71 flights a week flying from Penang, among which the destinations are to Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru and Bangkok. Thus, this new service from Penang will stimulate another demand segment consisting of the local and international passengers, be it for the purpose of vacation, business trip or for health tourism.

Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, said “Penang has been on the tourist route-map for decades, and is now fast-growing as an industrial centre. With the combined attractions of tourism and business, Penang air connectivity has to be expanded to cater to the ever increasing traffic demands from the inbound and outbound travelers. Also hailed as Silicon Valley of the East, the city is multifaceted, diverse, vibrant, thriving and growing due to the excellent infrastructure and transportation facilities,”

“It is also geographically strategic with an excellent port for ships, access to the North-South highway and the railroad and now, has additional international air connectivity. We are also proud with the fact that Penang was announced to be the next Cyber City in the national roll-out of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) by the Prime Minister last year. This will definitely boost Penang into a city of vibrance and innovation besides manufacturing and tourism as a mainstay of the economy. Thus we are very pleased with this development as our low fares have also played a vital role in increasing the air traffic, promote tourism, boost trade and stimulate the growth of the traveling market. And to celebrate this joyous occasion, we are giving away 15,000 free seats to Medan and another 15,000 to Jakarta from Penang” Dato’ Tony concluded.

To celebrate, AirAsia has launched a Free Seats promotion available from Penang to Medan and Jakarta offered exclusively through online bookings before 16th March 2008 for travel beginning 30th March 2008 till 11th January 2009.

In addition to that, AirAsia is also giving away some 20,000 free seats for its new routes from its hub in Jakarta. These new routes are Pekan Baru – Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta – Kuching and Jakarta - Kota Kinabalu. Free seats, as AirAsia calls them, do not include, taxes, service charges etc.

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