Australia, Malaysia plan new air route

[oz_mark]

From NineMsn

Australia, Malaysia plan new air route

Australia and Malaysia are in talks to open a low-cost air route between the two countries, spearheaded by Qantas-owned Jetstar and AirAsia, Malaysia's transport minister said.

Malaysia-based AirAsia recently unveiled bold plans to expand its route network to include longer-haul destinations, but the price to secure landing rights in Australia looks like being a reciprocal agreement for Jetstar to share the new business.

"An Australian low-cost operator will be operating (from Kuala Lumpur)," Chan Kong Choy said in an interview.

"We are negotiating now so if things go on fine you can see a low-cost carrier from Australia by the second half of the year." When pressed, Chan confirmed the carrier was Jetstar.

 

[Evan]

Thats good news i think for us that travel there, i like QF but have to transit Singapore to another airline, or fly Malaysian which is not really a choice i prefer.
E

 

[NM]

Thats good news i think for us that travel there, i like QF but have to transit Singapore to another airline, or fly Malaysian which is not really a choice i prefer.
E

I think I would prefer JQ's Starclass non-stop to KUL over QF's Y connecting to MH in SIN. But won't be able to be used for xONEx fares unless sold outside SWP region.

 

[oz_mark]

Thats good news i think for us that travel there, i like QF but have to transit Singapore to another airline, or fly Malaysian which is not really a choice i prefer.
E

I'm flying MH this week, but if JQ were flying there, I would probably take that option instead.

 

[Soundguy]

Air Asia need to get their act sorted out before they even think about flying international. Or perhaps they will list their flights by the day rather than suggest a time e.g. 'flight to KL departing sometime Wednesday'.

But on the positive side they have some nice staff in some snappy uniforms!

 

[Evan]

hahahaha too true about the timing, flown twice, not going to again in any hurry !

Had some very very nice staff on one of my flights

 

[anat0l]

This is a great development. At least there will be some amiable competition for the AUS-MYR route.

The only bummer is that we will most likely still fly MH because I'm guessing that the KUL flights will more than likely fly out of the JQ homebase, MEL Avalon. That means I need to go BNE-MEL then MEL-KUL. While I don't mind paying extra (for Star Class and more points on the two sectors), my family are cheap-a**** when it comes to flying, so there's no chance that they'll ever fly JQ to MYR.

Also, AK only allow 15kg on all sectors (they might extend this for longer sectors), whereas JQ will allow 20kg; 30kg in Star Class.

30kg...Business Class earning rights...Star Class...sounds like my cup of Chinese tea...

 

[Evan]

15kg !!! thats low, my bag for a week at work is usually 13 or 14kg, but as you can imagine my girlfriend is usually more !

I really cant imagine the potential (and its only potential) extra 5kg per passanger would really translate to much fuel burn and therefore cost.

Oh well thats how LCC's make there money i guess.
E

 

[N860CR]

Yep, that extra 5kg is a nice little money earner for them. Keeping even a medium size suitcase below 15kg is quite a struggle (many of the cases alone weigh half of that!) so for a longhaul flight where you plan to spend a bit of time at the destination (more importantly plan to shop up big while your away) one would be looking at an easy $30-40 extra based on AK's current excess charges.

 

[NM]

The only bummer is that we will most likely still fly MH because I'm guessing that the KUL flights will more than likely fly out of the JQ homebase, MEL Avalon.

Why do you assume they will use Avalon? They have not used AVV for any JetStar International flights yet.

Also note that according to Airbus web site, an A320 (the aircraft type operated by Jetstar Asia and Air Asia) has a full-load range of 3050nm, which is 3510 miles. KUL-MEL is 3918 miles, KUL-BNE is 4000 miles, and KUL-SYD is 4088 miles. So they are all beyond the range of the aircraft - unless that is the reason for the 15kg luggage limitation.

However, KUL-PER (2563 miles), KUL-CNS (3296 miles) and KUL-ADL (3524 miles) are within the aircraft's operating range.

If they are to operate to/from BNE/SYD/MEL than expect a transit stop in DRW or CNS.

 

[oz_mark]

Air Asia need to get their act sorted out before they even think about flying international. Or perhaps they will list their flights by the day rather than suggest a time e.g. 'flight to KL departing sometime Wednesday'.

They do fly internationally in the region as it is. Their on-time performance in December was 72%

 

[moa999]

An A320 (the aircraft type operated by Jetstar Asia and Air Asia) has a full-load range of 3050nm, which is 3510 miles. KUL-MEL is 3918 miles, KUL-BNE is 4000 miles, and KUL-SYD is 4088 miles.

I see those numbers on Webflyer to but it doesn't fit with my geography lessons - would have thought BNE would be shorter distance.

 

[NM]

I see those numbers on Webflyer to but it doesn't fit with my geography lessons - would have thought BNE would be shorter distance.

The numbers are accurate. Have a look at it on Great Circle Mapper.

 

[oz_mark]

I see those numbers on Webflyer to but it doesn't fit with my geography lessons - would have thought BNE would be shorter distance.

While BNE is not as south as MEL, it is much more east.

 

[anat0l]

Their (AirAsia) on-time performance in December was 72%

Please tell me that is a disgusting record - at least for the region.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

I see those numbers on Webflyer to but it doesn't fit with my geography lessons - would have thought BNE would be shorter distance.

Its like what is closest state capital to mt isa

ADELAIDE

 

[ColinP]

We croweaters have always known that Adelaide is the centre of the universe. It seems you guys have just woken up to the fact.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

We croweaters have always known that Adelaide is the centre of the universe. It seems you guys have just woken up to the fact.

I spent 6 months in Adelaide..............one weekend