FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   AirAsia achieve 100% load for Kuala Lumpur – Lombok inaugural flight! Twin celebration with flight send-off in Kuala Lumpur and welcoming in Lombok   SEPANG, 12 October 2012 – AirAsia Berhad celebrated its inaugural flight to Lombok, Indonesia here today, proudly attaining a 100 percent load for the maiden flight which departed from Kuala Lumpur at 8.35am Malaysian time.   In commemorating the momentous inaugural flight, the airline celebrated with a sending-off event for flight AK 1408 at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) international departure hall, where AirAsia Berhad CEO, Aireen Omar and Head of Transportation, Communication and Information of West Nusa Tenggara, Ridwansyah Mohd Yakub gave out goodie bags to guests bound for Lombok.   Both Aireen and Ridwansyah joined the flight, accompanied by an entourage consisted of AirAsia and West Nusa Tenggara Governor’s office representatives.   Aireen Omar said, “This latest route is the fifteenth Indonesian route that we operate from Kuala Lumpur, with a total of 17 from our Malaysian hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kota Kinabalu. Flight bookings for this new route, since we opened for sale in August 2012 have reached the number of more than 9,000 seats sold and counting. We put a lot of effort in promoting this new route, and we are happy to receive excellent response from the public to fly and explore Lombok, the hidden gem of Indonesia.   “Indonesia is a very important market for us and to date; we have carried over 9.3 million guests from Malaysia to Indonesia. Indonesia presents a lot of opportunities and there are ample room for us to grow the market. With a sustained economic growth, more of people are able and keen to fly due to improved spending power, factors which underline our belief in the growth potential of Indonesia’s aviation sector.”   In conjunction with the inaugural flight celebration, AirAsia presents another promotion for Kuala Lumpur – Lombok. The airline is offering promotional all-in-fares from as low as *RM149, with the booking period from now until 21 October 2012, for the travel period from 3 January to 31 March 2013. This promotion is available online at www.airasia.com.   The celebrations did not end in Kuala Lumpur. Flight AK 1408 received a grand welcome at Lombok International Airport upon touching down at 11.45am on the same day. West Nusa Tenggara’s Vice Governor Ir. Badrul Munir, together with AirAsia Indonesia CEO, Dharmadi was present in receiving the Kuala Lumpur inbound flight and presented garlands to the entourage and guests, honouring AirAsia’s first arrival in Lombok.    Ir. Badrul Munir said, “It’s an honour for us to welcome AirAsia to Lombok. The airline’s new direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Lombok will definitely contribute to the number of business and leisure travellers arriving into Lombok. This ‘bridge’ will greatly contribute towards strengthening Malaysian - Indonesian ties and help enhance the economy both ways, through more business and tourism activities.   “We are proud to open more doors for visitors to experience the beauty and wonders of Lombok, a place which presents stunning sceneries, calming waters and adventurous outdoors, bound to satisfy the diverse preferences. The people of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara also benefit from this new connectivity, as they can now enjoy direct access to various places in Malaysia and the rest of the world via Kuala Lumpur as the gateway.”   #Kuala Lumpur – Lombok was opened for sale on 16 August 2012, with promotional all-in-fares of RM88 offered for a booking period of 10 days. It received tremendous response from the public, with a full flight recorded for the maiden flight on 12 October 2012.   The new Kuala Lumpur – Lombok route is available 3x weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.    Stay updated with AirAsia’s latest promotions, activities and contests via social media by following the airline on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).   *Promo Fares include airport taxes and fees (all in fares). Flights and fares are subject to availability and are for one way travel only.   #Offer lapsed / no longer valid. For informational purposes only.   Flight Schedule:  Kuala Lumpur -Lombok Sector Flight Depart Arrive Frequency Kuala Lumpur – Lombok AK 1408 0835 1145 3,5,7 Lombok – Kuala Lumpur AK 1409 1215 1525 3,5,7 3-Wednesday, 5-Friday, 7-Sunday     For more information, please visit www.airasia.com or AskAirAsia.com.   Photo captions: (Flight send-off in Kuala Lumpur)   Photo 1: (Left to right) West Nusa Tenggara Head of Transportation & Information, Ridwansyah Mohammad Yakub; AirAsia Bhd CEO, Aireen Omar; AirAsia Bhd Commercial Director, Jasmine Lee and Chairman of Lombok Sumbawa Tourism Promotion Board, Awanadhi Aswinabawa (first from right) officiating the Kuala Lumpur – Lombok inaugural flight at the LCCT in Kuala Lumpur.   Photo 2: AirAsia Guest Services staff sending off guests boarding the inaugural flight to Lombok from Kuala Lumpur.   Photo 3: AirAsia Bhd CEO Aireen Omar presenting goodie bags to departing guests on flight AK1408 to Lombok.   (Flight receiving in Lombok)   Photo 4: The VIPs posing with the flight crew operating the Kuala Lumpur – Lombok inaugural flight: (left to right) AirAsia Indonesia Guest Service Manager, Mulyana; Head of West Nusa Tenggara Transportation and Communications, Ridwansyah; Head of West Nusa Tenggara Tourism, H. Lalu Gita Aryadi; CEO AirAsia Berhad, Aireen Omar; and President Director of AirAsia Indonesia, Dharmadi.   Photo 5: Lombok traditional dancers welcoming guests on flight AK1408 from Kuala Lumpur.   Photo 6: The West Nusa Tenggara Vice Governor, H. Badrul Munir (centre with, microphone), answering media queries during Kuala Lumpur – Lombok inaugural flight press conference today in Lombok International Airport. Other panelists are (left to right) Head of West Nusa Tenggara Tourism, H. Lalu Gita Aryadi; Head of West Nusa Tenggara Transportation and Communications, Ridwansyah; AirAsia Berhad CEO, Aireen Omar; President Director of AirAsia Indonesia, Dharmadi; and AirAsia Berhad Commercial Director, Jasmine Lee.