The Indonesian island of Lombok is set to be the next new hub of AirAsia after the airline revealed plans to start routes this year from the West Nusa Tenggara province.
AirAsia’s Indonesian-affiliate expects it will base two Airbus A320 aircraft in Lombok, with plans to double existing frequency to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, as well as services to Perth (Australia), Yogyakarta (Java island) and Bali.
AirAsia Group chief executive officer (CEO), Tony Fernandes said: “AirAsia will accelerate post-earthquake recovery efforts to support the communities of West Nusa Tenggara and the people of Lombok.
“The past year has been a very sad and challenging time for the people of Lombok, including the local tourism industry which has suffered as a result of the recent earthquakes. To be able to say that help is on its way is a great thing.
“In the next few months, we will be working with airports and government authorities to turn Lombok into our newest hub in Indonesia, making this commitment a reality.”
AirAsia commenced international services from Kuala Lumpur to Lombok in October 2012, and currently operates seven return flights per week between Lombok and Malaysia’s capital.
AirAsia Indonesia CEO, Dendy Kurniawan said: “Lombok is a premier holiday destination in the region and AirAsia is ready to tell the world that it is open for business.
“As an idyllic destination, Lombok has so much potential. We know that when we combine our resources and work with the tourism industry on marketing and public relations initiatives, we’re able to expand the market and drive greater demand for destination Lombok.”
