Asian long-haul budget carrier adds European destination

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Long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X announced November 18 that it is to add a second European destination to its network.

The Malaysian carrier, which operates from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, will fly to Paris Orly four times a week from February 2011 onwards.

The route is being launched with promotional tickets from €99 one way, which must be booked between November 22-24 for travel between February 14 and November 10, 2011.

Paris will be the second European route following London for the low-cost carrier, which was founded three years ago and now flies to 14 destinations, mainly in Asia.

Although its attempts to do for long-haul travel what Ryanair did for short haul travel have been criticized by some passengers, reviews of the no-frills flights have generally been positive.

Passengers used to the low-cost carrier experience are like to feel at home on board AirAsia X's flights, which charge similar "ancillary fees" for everything from checking a bag to getting a drink, and sometimes don't include in-flight entertainment.

Its initial £99 (€116) promotional fares between London and Kuala Lumpur last year sold out nearly immediately and although fare prices have now jumped, the current price of a return ticket on the route can still be less than half the price of its competitors.

http://www.airasia.com