AirAsia NEW ROUTES: Singapore and Makassar Makassar-Kinabalu

AirAsia Indonesia will make Makassar as a hub for international routes from eastern Indonesia, with the opening of routes to explore Makassar - Singapore and Makassar - Kota Kinabalu.

Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Indonesia Dharmadi said that with the opening of a sales office in Makassar is expected to start making capital of South Sulawesi as an international aviation hub, in addition to continue to develop domestic routes.

"We hope that soon we'll be the permission for opening the route to Singapore, Makassar could be a hub for international routes because of the closer here, including the Kinabalu," he said after opening a sales office in Makassar AirAsia Indonesia, Wednesday (20/2).

Dharmadi a former pilot, said after later getting permission Makassar - Singapore and Makassar - Kinabaru, the route can be connected with international routes have been opened by AirAsia Berhad are like Kuala Lumpur - Jeddah.

"So later on if it is open, it can be connected with a network of AirAsia, so from Makassar - Kuala Lumpur - Jeddah. Anniversary of Makassar is not too far either he said.

Nevertheless, the company also remains focused on domestic routes such as to Manado, Surabaya and Bali. The opening of the sales office located at Jalan Boulevard, Ruko Ruby, Panakukkang, Makassar, was inaugurated by national leaders as well as former Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Sales office is the ninth of the total Indonesia AirAsia sales offices that are scattered in Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Yogyakarta, Bali and Surabaya. Indonesia AirAsia is currently serving 70 routes, which are connected through six hubs namely Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, Surabaya, Medan and Makassar.

From the Makassar hub, already operates routes Makassar - Kuala Lumpur four times a week so it will be changed to daily, while for domestic routes from Makassar hub currently serves Makassar – Jakarta twice per day, Makassar - Balikpapan once, and at 1 March serving Bali, Manado, and Surabaya.

He said the government of Indonesia and Singapore also recently signed a bilateral agreement about the airline industry so that it can be used by the company and other airlines to explore the route to the land of the lion. "Basically, we have developed a connection from hub to hub, for example, from the hub of international routes to London and Singapore for example. Makassar location support," he said.
 
Dharmadi said that until now the company operates a fleet of some 22 aircraft and Makassar hub of which is allocated two planes. He said the addition of the aircraft when it is supported also by the policy of the company aircraft rental. This year the company will add nine aircraft so that its fleet to 31 aircraft.

AirAsia Indonesia, he said, aims to add 10 aircraft per year in the next few years in line with the company's efforts in developing business expansion. This year the company expects the number of passengers could reach 8.5 million - 9 million compared with last year's 6 million passengers.

In that occasion, former Vice President who is currently the Chairman of the Red Cross Indonesia Jusuf Kalla said there are several ways to measure the development of an area and two of which productivity and facilities.

But he said if the area is already well in terms of productivity and connectivity facilities to be supported by other regions.

"Economic growth in Makassar is higher than the national economic growth of 6.2%, while the Makassar only 9% due to productivity as well, so this Makassar airport facilities in terms of the center position for a flight to the East and the West," Kalla said.

South Sulawesi Provincial Government Assistant Public Welfare Charity Natsir added just feel if AirAsia makes Makassar as an international aviation hub of eastern Indonesia. "In the last five years our economic growth above 8%, 8.46% to be exact, while we also keep inflation at the level of 3.2% is the lowest compared to other regions," he said.

AIR ASIA Indonesia fly-thru service, Bandung-China

Air Asia Indonesia held a fly-thru service, linking Bandung with major cities in China. Bandung - China interconnection service which was launched two weeks ago it easier for passengers to fly to China, because it uses only one ticket although have to transit via Kuala Lumpur (KL).

Air Asia Indonesia Communications Manager Audrey Progastama Petriny said Air Asia fly thru add service in order to connect the major cities in Indonesia to China every day.

"Air Asia fly-thru service connects Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, and Surabaya to several cities in China such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macao, and Hong Kong," said Audrey.

So far, Bandung residents who want to travel to China to go through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore first. Flights to China to do with connecting flights to Kuala Lumpur where consumers no longer need to take care of the new airline tickets. "One ticket for the two destinations," she said.

Passengers fly thru service users from Bandung to make a reservation or purchase tickets with a booking code and one ticket to two destinations at once. "Passengers can save the cost of visa application, because passengers can travel without a transit visa," she said.

"We will also process the baggage to the final destination. This means that passengers do not have to make the process of moving luggage from destination to destination early next," she explained.

According to Audrey, since Air Asia opened the Bandung-Kuala Lumpur route, the airline passenger growth shows quite positive. Air Asia recorded an average load factor above 80%. "If from Bandung to China, load factor its just of 5%," she said. This service is Bandung predominantly of going to China, rather than vice versa. "If from other cities could reach 10%," said Audrey.

Air Asia Indonesia will continue to boost the promotion of these services so tourists visiting Bandung-China China and vice versa is growing. She hoped that in the future Air Asia can serve other direct routes which connecting Indonesia with a number of countries in the world. Air Asia currently serves 150 routes, with 76 destinations that connect 22 countries.

picture: google.com