AirAsia’s Kota Kinabalu and China route reap high demand

AirAsia, largest airline, has recently launched new routes connecting Kota Kinabalu to two major Chinese cities – Beijing and Macao. AirAsia’s inaugural flights for both routes have registered an exceptional load factor, exceeding 90%.

Additionally, AirAsia X’s first flight from Chengdu (Tianfu) to Kuala Lumpur boasted a remarkable 99% full load factor. The impressive demand has led AirAsia to increase capacity and flight frequencies on these routes.

AirAsia’s strong start with inaugural flights

On the 2nd of July 2023, the inaugural flight from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu recorded 172 passengers, translating to a load factor of 92%. Similarly, the first flight to Macao saw 171 passengers onboard, making it 91% full.

The overwhelming response from passengers on these new routes indicates a strong demand for travel between the destinations.

AirAsia X, the mid-haul airline of AirAsia, has also experienced a successful launch. The first flight from Chengdu (Tianfu) to Kuala Lumpur, which took place on 1st July 2023, registered an exceptional load factor of 99%, with 376 passengers onboard. The positive response has led the airline to increase the frequency of this route from twice to thrice weekly.

These favourable load factors reflect the airline’s dedication to fostering regional tourism between China and Malaysia. As demand continues to grow, AirAsia is keen on expanding capacity and flight frequencies to accommodate the rising number of travellers.

AirAsia’s contribution to Sabah’s tourism recovery

AirAsia’s new routes between Kota Kinabalu and China play a crucial role in the recovery of Sabah’s tourism industry, particularly with China’s border reopening. The airline’s commitment to enhancing regional tourism is evident through its continuous efforts to provide convenient travel options for both Malaysian and Chinese travellers.

Datuk Christina Liew, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah, expressed her delight with the successful inaugural flights and their potential impact on the state’s tourism recovery. She noted that since China’s border reopening, the tourism scene has been rapidly moving towards recovery, and AirAsia’s direct flights are instrumental in facilitating this progress.

The daily flights from Beijing (Daxing) and the four weekly flights from Macao will contribute significantly to the number of international flights to Sabah, adding to the current 100 weekly flights. The influx of Chinese tourists is expected to boost economic growth and cultural exchanges in Sabah, helping to achieve the target of more than 2.2 million tourist arrivals this year.

AirAsia Malaysia CEO, Riad Asmat, expressed his pride in contributing to Sabah’s tourism industry and the state’s recovery strategy. With a network of 21 domestic and international routes, including the newly added connections to Beijing and Macao, AirAsia has flown over 2.1 million travellers to Sabah from January to July. The increased direct flight connections are expected to further elevate tourist arrivals and boost the state’s economy.

AirAsia acknowledges the support from industry partners, particularly Sabah Tourism Board, for making these new routes and increased flight frequencies possible.