AirAsia very Xcross over Sydney flight refusal
AIRASIA X has stepped up its fight for a Sydney – Kuala Lumpur route by emblazoning its newest plane with the message: "Liberate Sydney. End the monopoly."
The low-cost carrier’s new Airbus A330 will take its message – which also features a silhouette of the Sydney Opera House – to the skies on the Melbourne and Gold Coast route.
The Malaysian-based carrier flies out of Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur but has been denied permission to fly from Sydney by the Malaysian Government, despite receiving the green light from local authorities.
“There is an immense demand for capacity on that route but the only thing holding us back from launching direct services is government approval from Malaysia,” AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani said.
“We hope this paint job comes through loud and clear because we will keep fighting the good fight until we get the go-ahead to fly to Sydney.”
AirAsia X head of commercial Darren Wright said the aircraft – named the ‘Southern Xross’ – was "dedicated to the Aussie spirit".
"And that means we won’t give up. Sydneysiders deserve greater choice and an end to the monopoly on the route by government-owned carrier Malaysia Airlines,” Wright said.
Ian Jarrett
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