KOTA KINABALU, March 4, 2024 -- AirAsia Malaysia (flight code AK) today celebrates another milestone for its second biggest hub in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, with its inaugural flight to Seoul, South Korea, which took flight with 100 percent passenger load factor.
Commencing operations starting today, 4 March 2024 with daily frequencies, this new route marks the airline’s continued expansion in Sabah with a total of 18 routes flying 282 weekly flights to and from Kota Kinabalu.
This direct flight makes travel between these two vibrant destinations more accessible and affordable for Sabahans with the opportunity to explore Seoul’s rich cultural offerings such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheonggyecheon Stream; iconic landmarks including Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky Observatory; as well as diverse culinary experiences at Mangwon Market and many others.
The inaugural flight celebration was marked by a lively send off ceremony by AirAsia and Korea Tourism Organisation with mascot appearance and merchandise giveaways for guests on board.
At a glance
- Company
- AirAsia Malaysia
- Announcement
- Expansion
- Location
- Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Key figures
- Inaugural flight passenger load factor
- 100 percent
- Routes from Kota Kinabalu
- 18 routes
- Weekly flights to and from Kota Kinabalu
- 282 weekly flights
- South Korean arrivals recorded in Sabah in 2023
- approximately 150,000
- Promotional fare
- RM389 all-in one-way
- Route frequency
- daily
People
- Bo LingamGroup CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited
Products and programs
Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited said: “We are very pleased to celebrate this new route with a full load which is a great sign of things to come. With approximately 150,000 arrivals recorded from South Korea to Sabah in 2023, we look forward to flying even more travellers into Sabah this year. As we continue to grow our East Malaysia hub, this expansion reinforces Kota Kinabalu's position as a dynamic aviation base, boasting nine domestic and nine international destinations. As South Korea has been one of the top three market sources for tourism in Sabah, the introduction of this route will not only boost the state's tourism and trade sectors but also strengthen the cultural and economic ties between South Korea and Sabah. We are confident that the addition of this route will further create significant mutual benefits for the people of South Korea and Sabah.”
In celebration of the inaugural flight, AirAsia is offering special promotional fares starting from RM389 all-in* one-way for Sabahans to discover Seoul. The promotional fare is available for booking starting 5 to 17 March 2024 for travel between 5 March and 26 October 2024 on airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app, which was previously known as ‘airasia Superapp’.
All nationals from visa-free countries/regions including Malaysia are required to obtain K-ETA before entering South Korea. For travel requirements into South Korea, please refer here.
About Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Malaysia office, established in 2004, plays its role in attracting Malaysian tourists to Korea by organizing various promotional activities for consumers and through its involvement and various collaboration with local tourism industry partners. It also serves as the key Korean liaison for local travel agencies, airlines, and media partners in promoting Korea as the top holiday destination among Malaysians. KTO also operates Korea Plaza, located in Menara Hap Seng, providing useful Korea travel information and diverse Korean experience programs to consumers. Visit our Website for more information or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.
In brief
AirAsia Malaysia has begun daily nonstop service between Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and Seoul, South Korea. The airline says the inaugural flight on March 4 departed with a 100 percent passenger load factor. The new route adds to AirAsia’s Kota Kinabalu network, which the release describes as serving 18 routes with 282 weekly flights. Group CEO Bo Lingam said the service is intended to support travel, tourism and trade links between Sabah and South Korea. AirAsia is offering one-way promotional fares from RM389 for eligible bookings made from March 5 to 17, 2024, for travel through October 26, 2024. The release notes that nationals of visa-free countries, including Malaysia, must obtain K-ETA before entering South Korea.
Key takeaways
- AirAsia Malaysia launched daily direct flights between Kota Kinabalu and Seoul on March 4, 2024.
- The airline reports that the inaugural flight had a 100 percent passenger load factor.
- AirAsia says its Kota Kinabalu network includes 18 routes and 282 weekly flights.
- Promotional one-way fares start at RM389, with booking and travel windows specified in the release.
- The release says travelers from visa-free countries, including Malaysia, need K-ETA to enter South Korea.
