AirAsia adds DRW-KUL

[HS-TQE]

AirAsia Direct Darwin-Kuala Lumpur Route Launched

Connectivity between the Northern Territory and Asia will increase with a new AirAsia Malaysia non-stop service between Darwin and Kuala Lumpur

www.nationaltribune.com.au

"The venture demonstrates the strong partnerships between the Northern Territory Government, Airport Development Group and AirAsia, and is supported under the Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme."

Will be interesting if this flight is able to stand on its own once the Territory Government subsidies expire. Clearly the NT Government are after Malaysian inbound tourism, hence the subsidies.,

 

[elanshin]

AirAsia Direct Darwin-Kuala Lumpur Route Launched

Connectivity between the Northern Territory and Asia will increase with a new AirAsia Malaysia non-stop service between Darwin and Kuala Lumpur

www.nationaltribune.com.au

"The venture demonstrates the strong partnerships between the Northern Territory Government, Airport Development Group and AirAsia, and is supported under the Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme."

Will be interesting if this flight is able to stand on its own once the Territory Government subsidies expire. Clearly the NT Government are after Malaysian inbound tourism, hence the subsidies.,

I legitimately wonder why someone in KUL or Malaysia would want to goto DRW. CNS maybe, but Darwin? If it's to visit "Australia", Sydney and Melbourne are always the aspirational to visit location.

Otherwise it feels like Australia is just an expensive place to visit. Could go to Japan instead for example.

 

[justinbrett]

I legitimately wonder why someone in KUL or Malaysia would want to goto DRW. CNS maybe, but Darwin? If it's to visit "Australia", Sydney and Melbourne are always the aspirational to visit location.

Otherwise it feels like Australia is just an expensive place to visit. Could go to Japan instead for example.

For whatever reason, DRW-KUL has been an on again/off again route for decades. MH flew it in the mid 2010s but they also had another period before that about a decade earlier. My guess is family, but there is also a fair amount of Defence traffic with the former RAAF Base in Butterworth (now back to RMAF base but still an Australian contingent permanently based there).

I lived across the road from the MH office on Mitchell St about 20 years ago - although the route was suspended in the 3 years I lived there. They had a big neon sign at the top of their office which made them look like they were the biggest airline in town. (There was a QF office there but I don't recall them having a sign. I booked my first LONE4 with my mate there as walk ins - it was so much easier! )