AirAsia opens first travel and service centre in Maldives

Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia launched Sunday its first travel and service centre in the Maldives.

The AirAsia Travel and Service Centre in Malé was opened by AirAsia CEO Aireen Omar and Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer at a ceremony yesterday.

“With its central location in Malé, it is an added convenience for guests who are not able to book their AirAsia flights online,” Omar said in a statement. “Our direct route connecting Kuala Lumpur and Malé has also shown a strong track record since we started operations last October, with an average load factor of 85 percent on both ways.”

She added that the airline takes pride in connecting guests through its “extensive route network, which covers over 100 destinations into Maldives through Kuala Lumpur, which is one of our biggest hubs, as well as a transit hub for our Fly-Thru guests.”

AirAsia is presently the only airline that operates direct flights from Maldives to Kuala Lumpur.

Located on the first floor of Galolhu Fasmooge on Bodurasgefaanu Magu, the ATSC is operated by AirAsia’s local agent All H Maldives.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Zameer said: “I congratulate AirAsia and its local partner, All H Maldives Private Limited and this partnership are example of opportunities available to the private sector that will drive the engine of Maldives Aviation sector.”

To celebrate the ATSC opening, AirAsia is also offering a special promotional fare with a 20 percent discount for selected AirAsia and AirAsia X flights from Kuala Lumpur to cities in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, and Australia.

The promotional fares will be available exclusively at the ATSC in Malé before May 29 for travel between June 1 to August 31.

The newly opened ATSC in the Maldives is the company’s 94th in the Asia region.

The AirAsia Group is Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost airline and currently operates domestic and international flights to 100 destinations in 22 countries.

AirAsia has won Skytrax’s ‘World’s Best Low-Cost Airline’ for seven consecutive years.

The company’s subsidiary, AirAsiaX, previously offered regular flights between Kuala Lumpur and Malé via Colombo, but suspended operations in the Maldives in March 2014, citing “challenging business conditions.”

Malaysian fast food franchises Marry Brown and Secret Recipe have also opened outlets in Malé. The latter opened its first outlet in the Maldives’ capital in late April.