AirAsia X Finally Arrives Busan, 2nd Largest City In Korea

AirAsia X’s Chairman; Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, CEO Azran Osman-Rani, Director; Dato’ Fam Lee Ee and
Senior Management of AirAsia X were among the delegates who took the first flight into Busan today.
Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Co-founder and Director of AirAsia X along with Ji Sung Park, were among
the few who received the inaugural flight at Gimhae International Airport Busan today.

AirAsia X Co-founder and Director; Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Ji Sung Park; at the fare unveiling ceremony/launch  of the airline’s first flight into Busan

AirAsia X, the Malaysian-based long-haul, low-fare airline affiliate of the AirAsia Group, today touched down Gimhae International Airport, Busan with 86% passenger load on its inaugural flight to the city from Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal. Busan is the airline’s 2^nd destination after Seoul in Korea, and is the first direct flight connecting the two cities.

AirAsia X is commencing four weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Busan on the Airbus A330-300 aircraft with seat configuration of 12 Premium Flatbeds and 365 Economy seats.

To mark the launch of its first flight into Busan, AirAsia X is offering an unbelievable promotional all-in fare from as low as MYR229* (KRW80, 000*) on Economy, and from as low as MYR899* (KRW349, 000*) on our Premium Flatbedbetween Kuala Lumpur and Busan one way. Fares are available online for booking from 15 (Time: 12:00 Malaysia/13:00 Korea) to 28 July, 2013 for travel between 22 August 2013 and 19 January, 2014.

Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and made exclusively available online.

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairman of AirAsia X, said “AirAsia X’s presence in Busan is our dedication to the Asia Pacific region; as we focus in our core markets in expanding our passenger base. We believe through our hub in Kuala Lumpur and hubs in countries where the AirAsia Group have been established, that we would together stimulate new travel demands from Busan city and its surrounding regions and vice versa.”

Guests may also opt for our Fly-thru services from Busan, offering connections to our strong feeder network from as low as KRW108,900* to Australia (Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Sydney), Indonesia (Medan, Surabaya, Bali, Jakarta), Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket) Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh), Malaysia (Langkawi, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching), Singapore and vice versa. The Fly-thru service allows passengers to seamlessly purchase two flight sectors and connect via Kuala Lumpur. Same booking and travel period applies for our Fly-Thru promotion.

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Co-founder and Director of AirAsia X, said “We remain positive and will focus in building our market leadership position in Korea. The addition of Busan is clearly a step forward.  Guests travelling to Busan, may also use Busan as a gateway to the popular Jeju Island which is just an hour away by flight.”

The inaugural celebration took place at Paradise hotel this morning with the attendance of the media, airport, tourism, government representatives and business partners. AirAsia X was represented by Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairman of AirAsia X, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Co-founder and Director of AirAsia X, Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X, and a special guest appearance, Mr. Ji Sung Park, an International football icon.

“Our launch today with the present of Ji Sung Park is part of our aggressive marketing strategy to further enhance our brand image and presence in Korea. With the rise of LCCs in the Asia Pacific region, we need to remain creative and innovative and ensure we do things differently to stay in the forefront of competitors,” concluded Tony.

AirAsia X was the first long-haul, low-fare carrier to introduce Premium Flatbed seats, which have standard business class specifications of 20” width, 60” pitch and stretch out to 77” in full recline position.

The Premium flatbeds feature universal power sockets, adjustable headrests and built-in personal utilities such as tray table, drink holder, reading light and privacy screen. Premium seat guests also enjoy premium complimentary products and services including Pick A Seat, Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding, Priority Baggage, 25kg Baggage Allowance, Complimentary Meal and Pillow & Duvet.

Busan & Jeju Attractions:

With over 3.6 million people, Busan is the second largest city and the number 1 trading port in Korea. Attractions include the beach areas, islands, and Hae Ahn Park coupled with historical ruins and sites, and Dongnae Shrine. Surely Busan's most charming tourist point is its beautiful sea vistas. The South eastern beach areas have amazing views of the fantastically shaped rocks and islands, which is a must see. The famous beaches of Haeundae, Gwangalli, and Songjeong are enjoyed by many. Boating, jet skies, and banana boats are just among a few of the water recreation activities visitors can enjoy. Amnam Park, Igidae, and Haean Park offer views of nature's masterpieces. The natural beauty of Busan is a perfect example of harmony between mountains, rivers and sea. Visitors can take advantage of excellent hiking and water activities, in addition to the many hot springs scattered throughout the city.

Jeju Island, is the only self-governing province in South Korea, and lies South of the Korean peninsula. This volcanic island is dominated by Hallasan Mountain, which stands 1,950 meters high and is Korea’s highest mountain. It boasts a subtropical climate, much warmer than the rest of the Korean Peninsula, and is the location of many citrus fruit farms. Because of its isolation, Jeju Island has developed its own distinct culture and traditions; including the commonly found “stone grandfather” statues and matriarchal family structures. Jeju’s tourist attractions include beaches, folk villages, waterfalls, Yeomiji, an indoor botanical garden on the southern half of the island, volcanic rock structures along the coast, Hallasan Mountain and various other parks, resorts and casinos designed specifically to cater to tourists.