AirAsia X to launch Kuala Lumpur - Taipei Flights

AirAsia is preparing to launch flights between Kuala Lumpur and Taipei in Taiwan. The new route will begin on 1 July 2009 with five direct flights weekly.

To celebrate the launch fares are being offered from as low as RM101++ (NT$888++) one-way. The booking period is from 24 April 2009 to 3 May 2009 for travel between 1 July 2009 and 31 January 2010.

The flights will be operated by AirAsia’s low-cost long haul carrier affiliate, AirAsia X.

AirAsia Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan said, “Taipei is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle to our oriental network strategy and we are extremely excited on the potential of this route. In the past, we have been receiving a lot of requests from our guests and the travel community in Malaysia and Taiwan, thus we are really thrilled that this route is now finally happening. Although shadowed by economic uncertainties, we are confident our ultra low fares will entice the Taiwanese public and Malaysians who reside, work and study in Taiwan to be able to fly home to connect with their families.”

Taipei is an attractive destination rich in heritage and history. History lovers should visit the National Museum of History, situated at the Nanhai educational district of Taipei City. The museum boasts a wealth of historic collections, namely ancient calligraphies and paintings. Or visit the 90-year old Red Pavilion Theater, once an important venue for story-telling and artistic performances.

On a more modern note, Taipei is also location of the Taipei Financial Centre (101 Building). Standing at 508 meters tall and housing 101 floors, the building, one of the tallest in the world, used more than 72,000 different sizes of glass in its construction.

President of the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre for Taiwan, Dato’ Abdullah Mohd Salleh, said “To the people of Taiwan, the low cost carrier concept of AirAsia is perhaps something new. This is a perfect opportunity to try out the service by AirAsia and to visit Malaysia.

“With the large number of Malaysians of Chinese origin and who are conversant in various Chinese dialects, we believe that Taiwanese visitors will find themselves on familiar ground in Malaysia. Likewise, Malaysian tourists will feel very much at home in Taipei and for Muslim visitors, finding halal restaurants and eating outlets in Taipei would not be a very big problem. Taiwan is also host to about 4,000 Malaysian students apart from the business and friendship community,” Abdullah added.

Taiwanese visitors to Malaysia must apply for a social visit visa that costs NT$ 240 that is valid for 2 months.

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