The leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia today celebrated the inaugural flight from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), India to Kuala Lumpur in a true Southern Indian spirit to depict the first route launched by AirAsia to India. Barely a month after opening the sale for the route, AirAsia has already recorded an overwhelming 100 percent load from 1st – 18th December 2008 for the flights from Kuala Lumpur to Trichy with an amazing average of over 80 percent load factor both ways. The low-cost carrier currently serves the route with direct daily flights Trichy departing from LCC Terminal, Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia’s spanking 180-seater Airbus A320.

Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad said “We are extremely proud of the soaring load factor for this new route. We have created new demands for the market and are very proud to service an underserved sector. The continuous strength of this network will allow AirAsia to rapidly drive growth, perhaps even ramping-up more frequencies in the future so that our guests can continue to enjoy our revolutionary low fares. Our guests can benefit from our network where we have over 3,000 weekly flights from our extensive network in the region, encompassing over 108 routes in Asia, including the ones served by AirAsia X, our long-haul affiliate to Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Australia and Hangzhou, China. Taking our steps further into the global market, AirAsia X has also announced flights to London which will commence in March 2009.”

“We truly hope that with this new service, the people from Trichy and its neighboring regions will have access to more low-cost alternatives to international routes and additional destinations from Kuala Lumpur where AirAsia champion. Furthermore, there is a huge population of Indians in Malaysia who descended from South India and with our extremely affordable fares will enable them to trace back their family roots, renew family ties, and perform pilgrimage or travel for holiday purposes”

H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner for India in Malaysia commented “AirAsia has revolutionized air travel with its low fares and made flying affordable for everyone. We are confident that AirAsia will not only assist us in boosting bilateral agreement, the local tourism industry and economy but also opening up our market. We are excited and are certainly looking forward for AirAsia to launch other routes from the various points in India in the future.”

Tiruchirapalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rockfort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. The city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.