AirAsia is expanding its network with the introduction of new routes connecting Thailand to Nepal and Indonesia to Hong Kong.
Thai AirAsia plans to launch a service between Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK) and Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) on Oct. 2. Flights will operate four times per week, marking the LCC’s entrance to the Nepalese market.
The AirAsia group has previously served Nepal, with AirAsia X flying between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kathmandu until October 2018. The Himalayan nation has remained absent from the group’s network since then.
“AirAsia is always looking to expand its network to exciting destinations, and Nepal is one of the most popular not only among Thai travelers but also visitors from across the globe,” Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya says.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the airline will become the fourth operator of nonstop flights between Thailand and Nepal. Currently, Thai Airways provides a double-daily Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Kathmandu service, while Nepal Airlines serves the same sector three times per week. Thai Lion Air also offers two roundtrips per week between DMK and KTM.
AirAsia now operates 16 routes to South Asia, offering a total 87 flights a week.
“This is a region with tremendous growth potential that has only made us work even harder to roll out more flight services to meet the demand for tourism, trade and business purposes. Thus, the latest route will definitely be of benefit to both regions,” Klongchaiya adds.
Meanwhile, Indonesia AirAsia is launching nonstop flights from Bali and Jakarta to Hong Kong in October. These new routes will offer daily service, with Bali-Hong Kong commencing on Oct. 1 and Jakarta-Hong Kong on Oct. 8.
Based on data from the Statistics Bureau of Indonesia, foreign tourists from Hong Kong reached 13,673 visits from January to June 2024. This number is nearly 98.5% of the total visits in 2023, which amounted to 13,885.
Meanwhile, data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board indicates that tourists from Indonesia to Hong Kong in 2023 increased to 252,432, up from 7,480 in 2022.
Hong Kong is working to add more Southeast Asian connections, recently signing agreements with Vietnamese and Cambodian entities to spur the creation of new routes.
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