Low cost long haul carrier AirAsia X has completed the shift of its Kuala Lumpur route from Stansted to Gatwick.
The airline is to fly five times a week to the Malaysian capital, rising to six flights a week by mid-December. Fares lead in at £229 one-way including taxes and charges.
Air Asia X hops to tap demand for through connections to other long haul destinations such as Australia, China, Indonesia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Thailand. One way connecting flights to Perth and Melbourne start at £339, Christchurch £369, Hangzhou £319 and Taipei £309.
An Airbus A340-300 is being used for the service from Gatwick’s South Terminal offering 327 seats including 18 premium flat bed seats.
Head of commercial Darren Wright said: “From our first flight into London back in March 2009 till today, we are strong supporters of our London–Kuala Lumpur route and are always looking for ways to improve ourselves to increase passenger traffic in and out of London.
“With that being said, we believe that our move into Gatwick will help this route grow as we are now providing guests with greater choices for connectivity such as better and faster rail and bus connections into London, Europe and beyond.
“With our new home base in Gatwick, guests will be able to further benefit from the airport’s regional access and market connectivity potential with faster and cheaper rail connectivity to the city as compared to Stansted.”
The airport’s commercial director Guy Stephenson said: “We are within an hours drive for around 15 million people and we have fast and excellent rail connections to central London.
“The combination of these factors mean that AirAsia X are in a better position to increase traffic between the UK and Malaysia now that they have moved their London ‘home’ from Stansted to Gatwick.”