AIRASIA X PREFERS STANSTED AIRPORT DUE TO CONNECTIVITY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's premier long haul, low
cost carrier, AirAsia X is starting its flights to London next March and has
stated a preference for using Stansted Airport due to good connectivity.

Its chief executive officer, Azran Osman-Rani said Monday that the airline
was however still finalising operational details for the inaugural
flight.

"We hope to announce this year the start of sales for the flight to
London,"
he told reporters on the sidelines of the the 14th World Route Development
Forum (Routes KL 2008) here.

Stansted Airport is located 56km north-east of London.

Azran also said that the global economic uncertainity had in no way
affected AirAsia X's business operations and in fact, it had registered a higher
customer demand.

"Operationally, things are going well," he added, while indicating that the
airline did not anticipate any problem in securing financing for its new fleet
of aircraft ordered.

He also said that the higher oil prices has not affected AirAsia X as much
as others, as the new aircraft were fuel efficient.

He disclosed that AirAsia X would pick up the first of its 25 units of
wide-bodied A330 aircraft, by the end of the month and receive another by the
year's end. Three more aircraft would be delivered next year.

AirAsia X, which began operations in November 2007, currently flies to
Australia's Gold Coast and Perth as well as Hangzhou in China.

The airline has stated it would launch flights to Melbourne next month.