Super low-cost carrier starts service at Haneda

Tokyo's Haneda airport has allowed a foreign low-cost airliner access to the facilities for the first time since the transport hub resumed its international operations last month.

The low-cost Malaysian carrier AirAsia X on Thursday started a shuttle service linking the country's capital Kuala Lumpur with Haneda 3 times a week.

The first flight with 320 passengers on board arrived at the airport on schedule at 10:30 pm local time.

The company's CEO Azran Osman-Rani welcomed the passengers at the airport.

The Malaysian carrier has set discount fares at around 60 dollars and regular economy seats at 165 dollars, one way. These fares are much cheaper than those of major carriers.

The carrier says it has made efforts to cut expenses by omitting some services on board and raising operation rates.

One of the travelers said the fare was less than half of what she used to pay, and her seat was comfortable with enough space.

Increasing numbers of foreign-based air carriers are expanding their services to Japan. Japan's All Nippon Airways will also establish a low-cost carrier next month.
Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:03:00 +0900(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)