AirAsia X target its 10 millionth passenger this year

AirAsia X, the long-haul affiliate of Asia's largest low-cost carrier AirAsia Bhd, is targeting to receive its 10 millionth passenger by the middle of this year.

Chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said based on its record since five years ago, AirAsia X’s passengers had drastically increased to more than eight million up till 2012.

He said since its establishment five years ago, AirAsia X has boarded eight million passengers to main destinations between Australia, Japan, Korea and China.

“Last year we have exceeded the 2.5 million mark just for 2012. So this year we will reach 10 million by the middle of the year,” he told Astro Awani in an exclusive interview in conjunction with the airline’s official flight Shanghai.

Commenting on AirAsia’s effort in promoting tourism in Malaysia, Azran said AirAsia X dan AirAsia group itself will continue to closely work together with travel agencies to prepare attractive packages.

“We are collaborating with travel agencies that have those packages because that’s their core competence. They are more focused on packages.... and for us, the main focus in to prepare low-cost flights,” said Azran.

He also said passengers nowadays are very concerned about the brand of the airlines apart from the quality they offer.

To highlight the AirAsia X brand in the regional aviation network, he said AairAsia X will ensure that the cooperation with other low-cost carriers will bear AirAsia X's name.

“We have collaborations using AirAsia’s brand, for example in Japan, AirAsia collaborates with All Nippon Airways (ANA) for AirAsia Japan. The same goes in Indonesia and Thailand where the advantage is we highlight the brand,” he added.

AirAsia X is the only low-cost carrier that offers long distant journeys.