AirAsia offers to fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Srinagar

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 5

Following a spurt in tourist arrivals from Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s largest and low-cost airline AirAsia Berhad has offered to fly direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Srinagar.

The Malaysian airline has sent an ‘expression of interest’ to Raj Bhawan, saying that it would boost the tourism sector. The communiqué was sent following the familiarisation tour held here last month which was also attended by the Malaysian delegates, besides tour operators from across the country.

“We are pleased to express our interest to operate the direct international flight with our A330 wide-body aircraft which has 377 seats from Kuala Lumpur to Srinagar. The route will serve as a new and the first direct connection between Southeast Asia and Kuala Lumpur to Srinagar, which we believe has a great potential to so much offer in terms of tourism,” said a letter from Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AirAsia, Benyamin Ismail — a copy of which is with The Tribune.

The CEO has initially offered to operate flights three or four times a week and later on a daily basis. AirAsia has further proposed setting up of a ‘joint marketing fund’ to boost tourism. The letter has also sought support from the Union Ministry of Finance via a viability gap funding for the route.

Srinagar Airport director Akash Deep Mathur said though he was yet to officially receive any communication, the manager of AirAsia had discussed the idea with him.

“We agreed that we will coordinate and facilitate the slot allocation. We are open to the idea. We are happy with this…if international flights start,” Mathur told The Tribune.

He said a new terminal was being constructed which would have a shuttle service to ease the rush of travellers. He said the new terminal would also facilitate international flights.

While the overall tourist arrivals are on the lower side, the inflow of tourists from Southeast Asian countries has witnessed an increase.

“Last year, we received around 7,000 tourists from Malaysia and Thailand but this year, we have already received 13,000 tourists,” said Mir Anwar, president, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir.

On his Valley visit during the recent FAM tour, Deputy High Commissioner of Malaysia to India Nor Azam Bin Muhammad Idries had said they were keen to operate direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Srinagar to boost tourism.