(8/9/2004)
The Malaysian low cost carrier that boasts "Now Everyone Can Fly" and offers fares low enough to make that possible, landed its inaugural Bali flight on the island on Thursday, August 5.
The Air Asia Boeing 737-300 with 148 sold-out seats landed at Ngurah Rai International Airport with the return flight carrying a somewhat less impressive load factor of 73 paying passengers.
Those hoping to spot the distinctive livery of Air Asia had to be quick to catch a glimpse of the aircraft on Thursday as the aircraft spent only 22 minutes on the ground before its was once again airborne and on its way back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Quick turn-around times on the ground are just part of the airlines compulsive fixation on efficiency and cost-savings that includes one class of seating, paperless ticketing, first-come-first served free seating on the aircraft, no complimentary refreshments on board, and no refunds for late operation of aircraft.
One-way fares between Bali and Kuala Lumpur start as low as Rp. 249,999 (approximately US$ 27.80).
The airlines regional manager for Air Asia, Shamsul Salin, quoted in the Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia said that based on the initial strong response for the new service between Bali and Kuala Lumpur he projected the current daily service would be increased to twice a day before late November 2004.
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