AirAsia X reinstates Kuala Lumpur-Changsha route

AirAsia X (AAX) on Tuesday announced the resumption of its direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Changsha, marking its sixth route to China and further expanding its presence in the Chinese market.

Starting July 5, 2024, the airline will initially offer four weekly flights to Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province and a significant cultural and historical center.

The city is home to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, famously known as the inspiration for the movie Avatar.

“China has always been one of our most popular markets and continues to be amongst our fastest growing markets,” said AirAsia X CEO, Benyamin Ismail. He highlighted the strong demand for the route, with over 140,000 passengers flown to and from Changsha in 2019.

This move reinforces AirAsia Group’s position as the largest foreign low-cost carrier in China by capacity. The airline aims to contribute to the Malaysian government’s goal of attracting 27 million international tourists this year.

To celebrate the route’s return, AirAsia X is offering promotional fares starting from RM388 for a one-way trip. Bookings are open until April 21, 2024, for travel between July 5 and October 26, 2024.

This route resumption coincides with China’s visa-free entry policy for Malaysian tourists, allowing stays of up to 15 days until November 30, 2024.