AirAsiaX launches KL-Fukuoka flight
FUkUokA: AirAsiaX has launched its direct inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Fukuoka, Japan. It is currently the only direct flight between Kuala Lumpur and Fukuoka.
Flight D7 538, which departed from KLIA at 11.50pm on Thursday, arrived at the Fukuoka Airport at 7am yesterday. On the flight were AirAsiaX Malaysia CEO Benyamin Ismail, AirAsiaX board director Datuk Fam Lee Ee, members of the media and other passengers.
Welcoming the flight at the airport were Fukuoka prefecture governor Hiroshi Ogawa, Fukuoka city deputy mayor Masanao Nakazono, administrator of Fukuoka Airport – Osaka Regional Civil Aviation Bureau Fumito Ohya and Fukuoka International Airport Company Co. Ltd representative director, president and CEO Tetsuya Nagasao.
Also at the inaugural ceremony was Tourism Malaysia Tokyo deputy director Shahrul Aman Sabir Ahmad.
“Japan is one of the top destinations for many, and a key growth sector for us. Fukuoka, becoming our very first destination on Japan’s southernmost island Kyushu, marks an important milestone for us today. We’re proud to be the only airline directly connecting Malaysia and Fukuoka in Japan,” Benyamin said at the event.
He added that over 156,000 seats per year will be available on the new route. Benyamin also revealed that AirAsiaX is planning to fly to about three more destinations in Japan this year.
Meanwhile, Ogawa said that there are ongoing efforts to promote Fukuoka as a travel destination to Malaysians, including a promotional booth during the upcoming MATTA Fair 2019 in KL from March 15 to 17.