AirAsia still bullish on Hawaii flights despite regulatory delay
Low cost carrier AirAsia says plans to launch flights to Hawaii in November are still on track, despite delays in forming its AirAsia Japan joint venture.
Flights to Hawaii departing Kuala Lumpur are dependent on a stop in Osaka, Japan but approval needed for a Japan based unit has been put back until the first quarter of next year.
However AirAsia X acting chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail said this will not impact the launch date as its two ventures – long haul unit AirAsia X and AirAsia Japan are seen as separate entities and AirAsia X will have possible fifth freedom rights to pick up passengers in Japan.
Japanese regulators have set stricter rules for airlines in recent months which has including blocking new flights into the country by Thai carriers because of safety concerns.
This is thought to be the reason behind the delay.
AirAsia, once the darling of Asian aviation has hit a few roadblocks of its own in recent months.
It is facing a US lawsuit filed by families of passengers on Flight 8501 which crashed in the Java Sea killing all onboard in December, and its stock plummeted briefly after a research firm in Hong Kong claimed there were accounting irregularities at AirAsia Group.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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