AirAsia Flight From Vizag To Malyasia Being Withdrawn?

Visakhapatnam: The campaign to promote Brand Andhra Pradesh seems to be set to receive a setback with low-cost carrier AirAsia cancelling confirmed tickets without citing any reasons setting off speculation that it may withdraw its service between Visakhapatnam and Kuala Lumpur. The travel industry is agog with the speculation for sometime that the AirAsia management is contemplating withdrawing the operation of a flight between Kuala Lumpur and Visakhapatnam, the largest international airport in the Telugu-speaking States after the Shamshabad airport in Hyderabad.

"It's disappointing news that they are getting ready to withdraw the flight from Visakhapatnam International Airport, which they had revived after a long time on April 26 last year, a fortnight after launching a direct flight to Mueang International Airport in Bangkok," K Vijay Mohan, president of Tours and Travel Association of Andhra (TTAA) told Bizz Buzz on Wednesday. He said 'low occupancy' is cited as the reason for informing them on plans to withdraw flight from Visakhapatnam notwithstanding the fact that the management did not accept their pleas for payment of service charges, group booking and ensuring good onward connectivity.

As a result, he said many going by AirAsia to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok and exploring connecting flights to Bali and other visa-free destinations have preferred to avail the service of other airlines due to cost advantage. Unlike Scoot, which allows 10 kg cabin language with user-friendly services, AirAsia restricts cabin luggage allowance to just 7 kg. Check-in luggage is chargeable for all low-cost carriers.

Availability of direct flights to Malaysia and Thailand had provided big respite to budget travellers from not only North Andhra but also people from South Odisha and parts of Chattisgarh. Travel industry is agog with a fresh talk on Wednesday that the service to Bangkok may also be withdrawn anytime. Besides AirAsia's two international flights, Visakhapatnam has a direct flight to Singapore by Scoot, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. The availability of direct flights to Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur has provided a good opportunity to leisure and business tourists to undertake other connecting destinations like Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Travel operators say now travel abroad may turn costly if AirAsia withdraws both the flights to Visakhapatnam. Due to price war, Scoot has been offering tickets to Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Bali and other destinations with a layover at Changi Airport in Singapore. There are apprehensions if AirAsia flights to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are withdrawn, Scoot may also opt for upward revision of fares to cash in on the situation.

At present, Air India Express operates a flight from Vijayawada to Sharjah. Confederation of Indian Industry, AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation and other trade bodies are now making efforts to convince Emirates Airlines to launch its operations from Vijayawada.

Travel industry in Visakhapatnam is also trying for more international flights to connect directly to Dubai, Colombo, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and other cities. "In this background, if AirAsia withdraws its flights from Visakhapatnam, the efforts for more international flights from Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada will get adversely hit," P Srinivas Kumar, Managing Director of Travel Links, a local travel agency, said.