AirAsia X cleared for flights to all US destinations

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's AirAsia X said yesterday it has become Asia's first low-cost carrier to receive approval to operate scheduled passenger flights to any destination within the United States.

The long-haul airline said it gained approval from the US Federal Aviation Authority and that it was considering flights to several US states, including Hawaii.

"Our expansion up until now has concentrated on Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, and we are excited about our first foray into an entirely new market as we look beyond Asia Pacific," group chief executive officer Kamarudin Meranun said in a statement.

The announcement comes a day after Emirates airline, the world's largest long-haul carrier, said it would add a US route.

A US airline lobby group said that move amounted to unfair competition because Gulf carriers received government subsidies, a claim that the Gulf carriers refute.

This article was first published on Jan 25, 2017.
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