AirAsiaX, the low cost long haul arm of Malaysia's AirAsia, has launched its daily direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi. The airline also announced promotional fare of Rs one plus taxes for one-way ticket, the sale of which will remain open between August 7-8, 2010. New Delhi is the second destination for AirAsiaX in India after Mumbai and the tenth worldwide.

While launching the inaugural flight Azran Osman-Rani, CEO, AirAsiaX said, “This is promotional fare with dynamic pricing and passengers who have booked their tickets on these days can travel between August 10, 2010 and September 30, 2010. The cost of a ticket on New Delhi-Kuala Lumpur sector would Rs one promotional fare and surcharge of Rs 476.”

The flight from Kuala Lumpur (D7-2506) will leave at 16:00 pm and reach New Delhi at 19:10 pm and on the return leg flight D7-2507 would depart from New Delhi at 20:25 pm and reach Kuala Lumpur at 04:35 am. AirAsia currently flies to nine Indian cities -- Tiruchirappalli, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru and New Delhi.

Speaking about the future expansion plan, Osman-Rani said, “The launch of Delhi service also marks the culmination of expansion of AirAsiaX in India for the time being. Though there are some cities on the airline’s horizon AirAsia and AirAsiaX would be catering to those nine cities where it is flying as of now. We would like to first see the market then think of expanding service to other cities. The airline has used up all its entitlement but hopes that it would get permission from the Ministry of Civil Aviation for more flights from Mumbai.”

Addressing the gathering, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to India, Dato Tan Seng Sung said that they were in talks with the Indian government on allowing more flights to India and one round of discussion is likely to take place later this month.