The decision was announced by Air Asia X on Thursday 14 January and services will start on 22 March, using Airbus A333 aircraft. The airline’s entry on the route is likely to have an ongoing impact on both NZ/Gold Coast and NZ/Malaysia fares and cargo rates.
Christchurch was hoping the airline would return there, as they have served that airport in the past, but Air Asia X chose instead to locate its new hub in Auckland, which has been strengthening its Asian air links in the past year, including Manila via Cairns and a new Beijing link. Kuala Lumpur is seen as a credible gateway to the ASEAN region for cargo, and Air Asia X is gaining a reputation with passengers for meeting business traveller needs too. And of course the Gold Coast Airport is a fully international customs port which already handles scheduled overseas flights for Virgin, Jetstar and Scoot, while Hong Kong Airlines launched its first Australian route last week with ‘seasonal’ or charter direct flights between the Gold Coast and Hong Kong, also using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Direct domestic connections are available from the Gold Coast to Sydney, Melbourne Adelaide and Cairns.
Colless Young can handle your import and export needs at the Gold Coast International Airport, just as with all other major ports in Australia.
