BHUBANESWAR: International airline AirAsia, which launched four direct flights in a week to Kuala Lumpur from Bhubaneswar, on Thursday announced to start daily operation to the Capital City of Malaysia very soon.
CEO of AirAsia Aireen Omar said the airline is overwhelmed with the response and bookings. It has witnessed over 80 per cent load. Apart from Malaysia, bookings have also been made from Indonesia,
Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Vienna, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, she said.
"Since the demand is quite high, people will soon have the service of daily flights between the two cities. India is an important market for us and the launch of the new unique route shows our commitment towards enhancing our connectivity in the country," she said.
The airline will also look viable and potential options to link Bhubaneswar with other Asian cities where AirAsia has its networks, Aireen said and added that the State City may be connected with Thailand in next phase.
"The recent announcement of multiple-entry eVisa facility valid up to 15 days by the Malaysian Government is indeed a great news to all leisure and business travellers. We can foresee a steep increase
in tourist arrival which will facilitate stronger tourism and economic growth of both countries," Aireen added.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Tourism and Culture Ashok Panda said the State Government has provided Rs 6 crore as part of viability gap funding for one year. "I hope this new connectivity will usher in a new era of progress for Odisha," he said.
On Wednesday, a receiving ceremony was held at Biju Patnaik International Airport to celebrate the arrival of flight AK31 in Bhubaneswar. The aircraft landed at 11.35 pm and was greeted with a water cannon salute.
Among the guests on board of the inaugural flight were Aireen, Malaysian High Commissioner to India Dato Hidayat Abdul Hamid, Senior Director of Malaysia Tourism Datuk Zainuddin Abd Wahab and a group of Malaysian media.
Later on the day, a Malaysian delegation met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat. Appreciating their efforts, the CM advised the team to start daily operation and assured to extend all infrastructural support.