Kuala Lumpur-based, long-haul, low-cost carrier AirAsia X announced this week its return to New Zealand, launching daily flights to Auckland from Kuala Lumpur via Australia's Gold Coast beginning 22 March. The service will utilise A330-300 aircraft and will also mark AirAsia X’s first foray into the trans-Tasman market. The low-cost carrier suspended its KL-Christchurch service in May 2012, citing high operating costs. And despite reporting substantial losses - RM288 million (US$65.8 million) … [Read more...] about AirAsia X to return to Auckland from March
AirAsia
Mechanical, human factors behind AirAsia QZ8501 crash
Indonesian investigators say a chronically faulty component and the crew's attempts to fix the problem contributed to the crash of an AirAsia passenger aircraft last year, killing all 162 aboard. The A320 aircraft crashed into the Java Sea less than halfway into a two-hour flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore in December 2014. The report noted that the aircraft's flight control computer had a cracked solder joint that malfunctioned repeatedly, including four times during … [Read more...] about Mechanical, human factors behind AirAsia QZ8501 crash
Bad weather hampers Indonesia crash recovery
Bad weather on Wednesday hampered efforts to recover the bodies of 54 passengers and crew killed when a plane operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana Air crashed in remote eastern Indonesia. The ATR 42-300 twin-turboprop went down on Sunday during a short flight in bad weather in Papua province, killing everyone on board. Rescuers finally reached the crash site, near the settlement of Oksibil that had been the plane's destination, two days later after initial efforts were hindered by the … [Read more...] about Bad weather hampers Indonesia crash recovery
AirAsia flight QZ8501 tail section found
The tail section of the crashed AirAsia passenger jet has been located by divers in the Java Sea. The find is significant because this part of the wreckage could contain the aircraft's black box which is crucial in determining what happened to Flight QZ8501. The tail section of the plane is upside down and partially buried in the sea floor, said an Indonesian official. At the time of writing, experts are still trying to figure out how to remove the black box from the tail. Despite … [Read more...] about AirAsia flight QZ8501 tail section found
AirAsia X A330neo launch customer with 50 orders
AirAsia X, the long haul affiliate of Asia’s largest low cost airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understand (MOU) with Airbus for 50 A330-900neo aircraft. The agreement sees the airline become a launch customer for the latest version of the best-selling widebody. AirAsia X will also be one of the first operators of the aircraft, with deliveries to the carrier scheduled to begin in 2018. “We have been encouraging Airbus to launch this new version of the A330 for some time … [Read more...] about AirAsia X A330neo launch customer with 50 orders
Cathay Pacific Services appointed to handle AirAsia cargo in HK
Cathay Pacific Services Limited (CPSL) has announced its appointment as handling agent for AirAsia’s cargo operations and documentation at the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal. Operations have been running smoothly since CPSL began providing services for AirAsia on 15 May 2014. Chief executive officer of AirAsia, Aireen Omar said: “We are fastidious about cost efficiency and competency in every aspect of our operations, and are glad to find a compatible partner like CPSL which … [Read more...] about Cathay Pacific Services appointed to handle AirAsia cargo in HK