With flights restarting to Beijing and the Gold Coast, AirAsia X is growing its global network.
Now that AirAsia X has resumed flights from Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast as of yesterday, Australians have another means to get to Asia. The sentimental service traveled back more than 25 years to the inaugural route of AirAsia X.
Return to the starting point
In November 2007, AirAsia X began service from Kuala Lumpur to Queensland’s Gold Coast, however because to pandemic limitations, it has been on hold for more than two years. In addition to being one of AirAsia X’s most well-liked destinations, the Gold Coast is one of Australia’s top tourism destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists.
Flightradar24.com reports that on Friday at 23:43, flight D7200 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) for the 6,500 km (4,000 mi) trip to the Gold Coast. An Airbus A330-300 with the manufacturer serial number 1433 and registration 9M-XXK, nine years old, flew the flight.
It arrived at Gold Coast Airport (OOL) at 09:34 yesterday morning after a 7:51-hour flight. When the A330-300 took off at 11:36 and returned to Kuala Lumpur at 17:44, it had been on the ground for slightly over two hours. At 09:45 this morning, it returned to Australia as aircraft D7288 and touched down at Sydney Airport (SYD).
Three of the thirteen A330-300s in AirAsia X’s (AAX) fleet are inactive, according to fleet statistics from ch-aviation.com. According to the statistics, it has also ordered 20 Airbus A321XLRs, 15 A330-900neos, and one A330-300.
On board, AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said that the trip will “strengthen the relationships between Malaysia and Australia” and that it was a very significant day for the airline.
The Gold Coast will always have a special place in our hearts, and the fact that AAX is now the sole airline linking Kuala Lumpur directly to the Gold Coast and to all of Queensland makes this announcement an even bigger milestone.
More AAX flights to China are now available. “Our newest route now provides the most affordable and convenient air travel option for guests who want to explore one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and for Australians seeking to visit Malaysia or continue on throughout Asia with our vast global network,” says the airline.
The Airbus A330-300, registration (M-XBF), left Beijing at 03:32 and, after a 5:49 hour flight, landed in Kuala Lumpur at 09:21. In March, AAX resumed flights from Kuala Lumpur to Shanghai and Hangzhou in China, and has now resumed services to Beijing. Flight D7342 left KUL on March 30th at 19:15 and arrived at Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) at 00:55 on Friday.
Now that China has resumed issuing tourist visas, AAX believes it will see a surge in demand for flights between KL and PKX. AirAsia X last operated the route on April 12th, 2020, although it operated in and out of Beijing Capital Airport. The route will operate twice weekly and is expected to stimulate business travel and tourism in both directions (PEK).
Beyond that, AAX is anticipating to expansion to more distinct, less frequented areas in China in the near future.
