AirAsia X to discontinue Delhi, Mumbai flights

Kuala Lumpur: Visa restrictions between India and Malaysia, increased airport handling charges and soaring fuel costs have led popular low cost Malaysian airline AirAsia X to discontinue its flights to New Delhi and Mumbai from its Kuala Lumpur hub. "Four weekly services to Mumbai and daily services to New Delhi will be suspended, with the last flight to both cities on 31 January and 22 March respectively," Air Asia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani said.

"The continued visa restrictions for travel between India and Malaysia and the increase in airport and handling charges have resulted in a structure not conducive to the low-cost model," Azran said, adding that the airline was hopeful of reinstating services to the country once these structural issues are resolved.Visa rules by India wherein a foreigner cannot immediately travel into India after flying out has rattled travel agents and people across South-East Asia.The rule is applicable to all countries. Many ethnic Indians in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore feel that the ruling makes it impossible to visit India frequently.The airline, a unit of AirAsia, will also cease services to London and Paris on 30 and 31 March respectively. Azran said these changes were to improve operating cost efficiencies and consolidate its network to focus on markets where it could build a leadership position. According to Azran, continued high jet fuel prices and weakening demand for air travel from Europe, due to the current economic situation and exorbitant government taxes, had placed cost pressures on operating low cost flights between Asia and Europe. PTI