Sunday, July 21, 2024 Thai AirAsia X (XJ), the long-haul arm of budget carrier AirAsia, has announced a temporary suspension of its only remaining Australian service between Sydney and Bangkok. This move comes alongside the airline’s planned relocation of all flight operations back to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) from October 1, 2024. Sydney-Bangkok Service on Hold Citing “fleet management and operation hub movement” as the reason, Thai AirAsia X will suspend its direct flights between Sydney and Bangkok effective August 1, 2024.
The suspension is expected to last for three months, with a potential resumption of services in December 2024. Minimizing Passenger Disruption To minimize disruption for passengers with existing bookings, Thai AirAsia X will automatically reroute impacted flights via Kuala Lumpur (KUL) with services operated by AirAsia X Malaysia (D7). Passengers who prefer to alter their travel plans will be offered options including free flight changes (subject to availability), flight credits with a 10% bonus, or full refunds.
Don Mueang Airport: A Strategic Shift The airline’s relocation to Don Mueang Airport signifies a strategic shift. Don Mueang is considered a more convenient hub for domestic travel within Thailand and offers easier access to central Bangkok. This move aligns with Thai AirAsia X’s goal of leveraging AirAsia’s extensive network, which boasts a strong domestic market share in Thailand and a wide-reaching international presence.
AirAsia’s Global Ambitions This network focus reflects AirAsia’s broader ambition of becoming the world’s first global budget network carrier. Earlier this year, the parent company announced plans to expand its reach to Africa with AirAsia X’s upcoming Kuala Lumpur-Nairobi service. Additionally, AirAsia has expressed intentions to enter the European and North American markets in the coming years, utilizing a hub-and-spoke model with new virtual hubs.
AirAsia’s Australian Expansion While Thai AirAsia X scales back its Australian presence, AirAsia’s other subsidiaries continue to expand Down Under. AirAsia Indonesia recently launched a new service between Cairns and Denpasar, Bali, while Indonesia AirAsia offers existing connections between Perth and both Bali and Jakarta. Additionally, AirAsia Malaysia entered the Western Australian market in March with its inaugural flight to Perth Airport.
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