Malaysian carrier starts U.S. service with isle route

Malaysian carrier AirAsia X began its maiden U.S. service between Kuala Lumpur and Honolulu on Wednesday, ushering in a connection between Hawaii and Southeast Asia that has the potential to add millions of dollars to Hawaii’s tourism economy.

The low-cost, long-haul airline of the AirAsia Group plans to fly four times a week using a 377-seat Airbus A330 between Kuala Lumpur and Honolulu with a stop in Osaka, Japan. AirAsia X flies a fleet of 30 A330-300s, each with a seat configuration of 12 premium lie-flat seats and 365 economy seats.

“Customers of AirAsia X in Kuala Lumpur and Osaka will appreciate the convenience of this direct service and the ease that it brings them in being able to experience these magnificent islands, our culture and natural beauty,” George Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said at a news conference to welcome the carrier that was held Wednesday at The Royal Hawaiian hotel.

Szigeti said the new service could generate just over $86 million in direct annual visitor spending and more than $10 million in state government tax revenue. It also is expected to support more than 1,000 jobs, he said.

The new service adds the U.S. to the AirAsia Group and its AirAsia X network of more than 125 destinations across Asia, Australia and the Middle East. It also lessens the cost of travel between Hawaii and Asia, AirAsia X Group Chairman Rafidah Aziz said.

“You can fly from any point in those 100-plus destinations and find yourself in Honolulu,” Aziz said. “I’m very happy to be back in Honolulu again after 35 years. When I first came, there was no budget carrier to bring me here.”

Historically, Malaysian travelers have gravitated to the Maldives and Mauritius because vacations there typically cost about $1,000 as compared with about $2,300 for Hawaii, according to Vasenta Selvanayagam, a Malaysian journalist with Female Magazine who traveled on the flight.

“I think the service will have a lot of impact because it reduces the cost of the trip by more than half,” Selvanayagam said.

Aziz said advance seat sales already show an uptick through September.

“If this momentum continues, we are are confident this route will mature,” she said.

To help bolster early demand, AirAsia X is offering promotional one-way fares through Sunday for travel between Oct. 1 and Aug. 28, 2018. Special one-way fares start at $189 for travel between Honolulu and Kuala Lumpur or $149 between Honolulu and Osaka.

Kelly Sanders, area general manager for Marriott International, said AirAsia X’s entry into Hawaii is “fantastic news” that will help the isles build stronger ties to the emerging Southeast Asia market and further support travel from Japan, which remains Hawaii’s No. 1 Asian market.

Zulhasnan Rafique, Malaysia’s ambassador to the U.S., said it’s fitting that AirAsia X’s announcement coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Malaysia.

“It’s not just a joyous occasion, but also a historic moment,” Rafique said.