Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia X has started flights to Melbourne Avalon Airport in Australia.
The small airport outside of Melbourne, which usually serves Jetstar and smaller General Aviation flights, has opened its doors to international air travel with an inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur.
This new connection is served by AirAsia X with an Airbus A330-300. The inaugural flight on December 4th, D7218, was operated by 9M-XBA. AirAsia X will be operating the flight twice daily.
Avalon’s new Kuala Lumpur service is part of the airport’s growth plan into the future. Avalon Airport (AVV) expects an estimated 500,000 passengers for the upcoming year.
The flight was mainly serving to guests and media as well as key members of the company, such as Chief Executive Officer Nadda Buranasiri as well as Chief Executive Chairman of Linfox Airports (the group which owns Avalon Airport), David Fox.
The inaugural flight lasted for seven and a half hours before landing at Avalon Airport at 09:16 pm local time. As the flight is not from Australia, Avalon Airport now has the title of being an international airport.
Avalon has only recently opened its newest addition to the airport, a new international terminal. It holds vital facilities necessary to serve passengers travelling internationally.
The aircraft stayed at Avalon Airport for about two and a half hours before starting its inaugural flight out of Avalon and back to Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia X flight D7219.
“The arrival of AirAsia X Flight D7218 at the state of the art new low-cost carrier terminal at Melbourne Avalon Airport signifies a new era for travellers and for the AirAsia Group in Australia,” Buranasiri added.
Australia-based contributor for International Flight Network.
