KUALA LUMPUR – AirAsia will soon connect Taipei and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia on a daily basis with the launch of its direct daily flights between the two cities. The new service will make Malaysia more accessible to the Taiwanese as a holiday destination. The route is now open for sale with direct flights commencing on January 15, 2010.
Besides Kota Kinabalu, AirAsia also connects Taipei to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital city, with its daily flights.
Although shadowed by economic uncertainties, AirAsia is confident that aggressive marketing and low fares will be entice not only holiday makers, but the Taiwanese public and Malaysians who reside, work and study in Taiwan to fly home to connect with their families and friends frequently.
"The timing of our inaugural (Taipei - Kota Kinabalu) flight in January is great as we can ride on the peak Chinese New Year season at both ends. Kota Kinabalu, famed for its natural wonders and its scenic beauty, is equally captivating to Taiwanese. We have studied the growing travel interests from both ends and it's a perfect fit with AirAsia as the integral connecting bridge," Kathleen Tan, regional head of commercial, AirAsia group, said.
"We are working very closely with AirAsia and hope to raise more awareness and interest into the hidden gems of East Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu has so much potential that can captivate and interest our friends from Taiwan. This new route, which is due to begin in January 2010, will help to enhance that interest into a catalyst of culture. There's simply so much to do, see and experience in Sabah. We invite and usher the opening of a new doorway into this exclusive realm of wonders," Muhamad Nasir Pahmi, director of Tourism Malaysia’s Taipei office, Taipei said.
The new AirAsia route will open up a gateway for Taiwanese to visit Sabah, and via affordable domestic flights, to the rest of Malaysia.
The new route will be serviced by the Airbus A320 aircraft with a capacity of 180 passengers.