05Nov07
TRAVELLERS touched down to a red carpet reception on Saturday as the Gold Coast welcomed the first official AirAsia X flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Surf lifesavers, Dreamworld characters and koalas from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary formed an honour guard to greet the 315 passengers including Malaysian Government officials, Gold Coast Tourism boss Pavan Bhatia and AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman-Rani.
Travellers paid just $99 for the maiden low-cost, long-haul flight.
AirAsia X will operate four direct return flights per week between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast, serviced by the airline's A330-300 aircraft.
After an eight-hour overnight flight, passengers were all smiles when the plane touched down at Coolangatta.
For Johnny Grimes and David Hor, the new route provided an opportunity for their first Gold Coast experience.
"It's David's very first time in Australia and it's my first time on the Gold Coast," said Mr Grimes, originally from the UK.
"We're just here to visit some friends but also because AirAsia X had the flight, that was instrumental in the decision."
Mr Grimes said his English language student David was 'just like a kid' when they arrived on the Coast.
"The plane was full and we were in business class seats up the front ... they said we were making history," said Mr Grimes.
"I think the more people that have the opportunity to travel the better it is and, of course, with AirAsia X and their long-haul travel, that will give people the opportunity."
Mr Bhatia said the flight was enjoyable and an historic one for the Gold Coast.
"I actually slept like a baby so it was a fantastic eight hours and there's nothing like landing directly on the Gold Coast," said Mr Bhatia.
"I'm really very excited, it's an historic day and not only has this plane landed in what is now called one of the world's best low-cost airports ... finally we are connected directly to Asia so it's fantastic.
"As far as we are concerned our city's plan is to get two million more visitors here by the end of 2010 and this is one of our strategies.
"Starting with about four flights a week, we do hope with the way this is going and with the outbound travel it will become attainable."
Mr Bhatia said the Gold Coast faced direct competition with countries such as Vietnam and China, which also offered attractive beaches.
"No longer is it one annual holiday. With low-cost you can take two, three or four holidays, therefore direct connectivity saves about two or three or four days and lets you recover from long-haul. This makes a difference," he said.
"With long-haul, a family can really come for three days, go to the beaches, go the Hinterland, have a great time, go to the casino and then go back and do it over and over again.
"That's what has changed with low-cost carriers in Europe, that's what's changed it in Asia and guess what, we are now welcoming it internationally for the first time here."
Mr Osman-Rani said AirAsia X was planning to expand with a second Australian destination and is negotiating with several cities including Newcastle in NSW and Avalon in Victoria.
"We are keen on Avalon as it is an open airport without any congestion. It will also be cheaper for us to land there," said Mr Osman-Rani.
NOTES
Airasia offers between RM1200-RM1700 return compared to MAS RM2700-RM3300.
However, fare excludes visa, in-flight meals, baggage check-in fee (RM20 up to 15kg)
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