INDONESIA AirAsia (IAA) yesterday expanded its Bandung-Kuala Lumpur and Bandung-Singapore services with Airbus 320 aircraft. Two more daily flights have been added to the Kuala Lumpur route and one daily flight added to the Singapore route.
IAA president Dharmadi said: “Our other flights are still served by our Boeing 737-300s, and we will gradually change them to A320 aircraft.”
With the ramped-up services, AirAsia now has five daily services between Bandung and Kuala Lumpur, and three between Singapore and Bandung. Capacity has increased from 149 to 180 seats.
Dharmadi said the increased frequency and capacity would strengthen the airline’s business out of Bandung, one of the most popular Indonesian destinations among the Malaysian travellers.
Commenting on the increased capacity, Batik Holidays Bandung managing director, Maktal Hadiyat, said: “Malaysian arrivals are really booming for Bandung. The majority of travellers (from Malaysia to Bandung) are ethnic Malay, and they have been coming here several times.”
“On one hand this is good for the local economy, as travellers know their way around Bandung, and spend their money on shopping and eating, but it gives little business to the travel trade,” he added.
