Malaysia's AirAsia X unveils 99-pound fare to London

Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia X said it will fly to London from next March with fares starting at $150, and that the cost could halve if the service is popular.     

AirAsia X will fly five times a week between the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and Stansted Airport on the outskirts of London, it said yesterday.     

Tony Fernandes, founder of the long-haul airline's affiliate AirAsia, said he hoped to attract Europeans who would explore the region through AirAsia's extensive route network in Southeast Asia.     

"AirAsia X's London-Kuala Lumpur route is the realisation of a long-held ambition to open up affordable access between Malaysia and Europe for both (Southeast Asian) and European communities," he said in a statement.     

Fernandes told The Star daily that the one-way fare of 99 pounds could fall to as low as 49 pounds if the flight frequency was increased.     

"Volume is the key. If we can find the plane and get two or three flights a day, I guarantee you 49 pounds will be a reality," he told reporters at the launch in London.     

AirAsia X, which currently flies to Australia's Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne, and Hangzhou in China, has ambitions of expanding sales tenfold to $1 billion by the end of 2010, despite the global slowdown.     

AirAsia X and AirAsia have sounded an extremely optimistic note in recent months, despite the uncertain global outlook and predictions of doom for airlines.     

Earlier this month they scrapped fuel surcharges on all flights to drum up business.