> To London for RM 499

Malaysia's long-haul budget carrier, AirAsia X, today announced that its London Stansted-Kuala Lumpur service will take off on March 11, 2009, with fares starting from as low as 99 pounds(RM499) each way.

AirAsia Group chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, said AirAsia X's London-KL route was the realisation of a long-held ambition to open up affordable access between Malaysia and Europe for both Asean and European communities.

For the sector AirAsia X will use Airbus A340 for the five times weekly direct flights.

Fernandes said bookings would start at midday London time today until Nov 30 for the travel period of March 11, 2009 to Oct 24, 2009.

London would be AirAsia-X's fifth international destination after Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne in Australia as well as Hangzhou in China, Fernandes told a news conference in conjunction with the sales launch of the new service at the London County here.

Also present at the event were AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani and chairman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan, as well as Malaysian High Commissioner to UK Datuk Abd Aziz Mohammed and representative from Stansted Airport.

Besides the 99 pounds fare for the economy seats, Fernandes said passengers also had the option to pay 549 pounds (RM1,999) for the XL seats respectively.

When asked on the timing of the launch now with the world facing an economic recession, he said the country needed some positive action and that entrepreneurs and corporations should do their bit in dealing with the situation.

"I am not going to sit there and cut everything and just say we are going to die. We are going to fight and find our way out of this recession," he said, adding that this was the time to "give back to the country."

"I could cut and make a bit more money but this has to be about being stronger after the recession."

Asked on what was next for the airline, Fernandes said he was aiming for daily service to London and possibly two flights a day - Malaysiakini.