AirAsia X, the Malaysian based long haul, low fare affiliate of AirAsia has announced that from 24 October 2011, it will commence flights from Kuala Lumpur to Gatwick Airport. The new base for the airline is set to further increase passenger traffic from South East Asia to London and Europe with six flights weekly to Gatwick Airport by mid-December.

AirAsia X’s decision to switch from Stansted to Gatwick Airport was to maximise commercial opportunities at Gatwick, to ultimately drive increased traffic flow between UK and Malaysia, and also the various key feeder markets within AirAsia’s network in Asia Pacific. AirAsia X guests will be given a wider choice to of both domestic and international connections via Gatwick Airport. Public transport and accommodation facilities are easily accessible via Gatwick for guest stop overs or for those heading towards central London and the surrounding region.

According to AirAsia X Chief executive Officer, Azran Osman-Rani said, their aim has always been to open up travel for all. The popularity of the London-KL route is further testament to the pent-up demand for long-haul travel, provided the fares are low and the quality is high. That is the combination that  AirAsia X are offering to its guests. Azran also stated that Gatwick Airport was chosen as it demonstrated the passion to work with us in realising our objectives to grow passenger traffic between our hubs in Asia Pacific and London. 

An official statement been released by AirAsia X via AirAsia's Facebook fan page as below:

With AirAsia X's new home base in Gatwick, guests would be able to further benefit from the airport’s destination served, airline diversity, and beyond market connectivity potential with faster and cheaper rail connectivity to the city as compared to Stansted. AirAsia X also see’s strong potential for the airport as we believe our entry will address the fact that direct services to Asia is significantly underserved from Gatwick. 

Air Asia X A340 Launch Long Haul Low Cost Flying Into London Stansted (credit to bananamanuk)

It was 22nd November where me and my brothers witness English Premier League heroes such Ray Parlour, Andy Cole, Ian Walker and many more play live in front of our eyes. Thanks to AirAsia for the wonderful sponsored tickets.

AirAsia promo booth :

Promo :Fly to Abu Dhabi from Kuala Lumpur (LCCT) with AirAsia A340's.
Thanks Kate for the tickets.

It was a total blast from our local fans supporting their favourite English Premier Leagues clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Sunderland and AirAsia AllStars. It was held at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil. Since it was my first trip into the stadium,I was stunned to see hardcore Manchester United,Arsenal and Liverpool fans having their fan & merchandise booths.

Check out the fans in the stadium...

Team Liverpool :

Team AirAsia AllStar:

Team Manchester United :

 

The main highlight of the tournament was definitely the clash of the The Red Devils and The Reds. Sincerely, the stadium was totally electrify with the match. Manchester United had become 2009 Champions as Liverpool was Runner Up due to Penalty shoot out during the finals.

The heat :

 

 The bust up with the two teams... No 9 Andy Cole the peacemaker

Ray Parlour been interviewed as the team captain of All Star :

 The Champions of 2009 EPL Masters Football Malaysia Cup : Manshester United 

Looking foward to attend EPL Masters 2010 next year...

Arsenal should produce a Senior veteran team such as Ray Parlour,David Seaman, Ian Wright, Martin Keown and many more next year 

See ya....

I would like to dedicate this post to all the aspiring Pilots around the globe no matter what gender you are. This Pilots really do work hard in ensuring high safety for all of us flying and also a good handle on the aircraft.

After the post of “This one's for the girls” by Dato Tony Fernandes in his blog, many blog readers are inspired with the concept of having female pilots in Air Asia despite of not many major airlines do really have female pilots. It is believe that Air Asia has the most female pilot in ASEAN and also having the first female Captain Pilot in ASEAN, which is Captain Norashikin Onn. 

Pilot Nadira Ramli

I was fortunate to meet Pilot Nadira as she was just finishing her flying report before calling it for a day. Being a pilot is always a passion for Nadira. She had graduated from a local flying institution and has been flying for Air Asia in her young age. With the experience that is building up in her wings, she also have her dream to be a Captain and also obtaining more experience in flying long hour routes.

Being so low profile, Nadira discuss about her routes of the day she had flied before I initially meet her. It is understood that Air Asia pilots and Cabin Crew will have to cover 4 routes and sometimes it also rise to up to 6 routes. Even though Nadira performs her duties in her daily routes, her religion teaching of fasting in Ramadhan month is been practiced strictly in her. There was no excuse for not fulfilling her religion tradition. For Nadira, fasting is being the challenge of being calm in any conditions. 

Explaining An Experience Onboard

When Nadira been asked what it is like to live for your dream as a pilot, she gave a quick response of “Loving It All The Time.” That is something passionate to hear a female pilot love her career with Air Asia.

Being a Muslim, Nadira has no problem in fasting while flying an aircraft during the fast Ramadhan month. I was so obligated to ask this question which was really playing my mind in a long time. 

She also had informed that even though she flies to various type of routes, she will normally break her fasting following the local time. By this, Nadira point out this is a interesting role to be a Pilot because it has different points of view being a pilot. 

A Picture With Pilot Nadira Ramli

Pilot Nadira also commented that different human being has it own limitations of fasting while during their normal routine in life. It depends on how an individual can handle a long route during fasting month. She also stated that Air Asia treat all its staff including the Pilots equally. This is because all Pilots are bound to their roster of duties which has he flight that has been assigned to each of them. She is fortunate to celebrate Hari Raya due to given holidays for the celebrations.

Even though being a pilot has it own challenge, Nadira had proven too as every other female pilots in Air Asia that possibilities in handling difficult situation can be manage by both genders.

I manage to have a picture of a group of Pilots who are preparing their flying plan for their route for the day. It was a fortunate chance been given to me to share of how does an AirAsia Pilot really perform their responbilities

I would like to thank Miss June, Dato Tony and all AirAsia Crew for giving the spot to highlight the true red colour in AirAsia.

Till then,

BON VOYAGE READERS !!!

Recently, it has been opted that MAS has broached the idea of swapping the A380 which will be commencing in early 2011 for smaller wide-body aircraft to avoid up to US$300 million in penalty if it were to cancel the order. 

The concept of swapping the A380's will be to having more A330's and also A350's. With another Malaysian brand airline,Air Asia which are over helming the target of using 100% Airbus compare to Boeing by all 3 based countries which is Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

With the current operation of Airbus by MAS, it have around 14 A330-200/300s with an average age of 13 years. This may will be a good venture of purchasing new A330's around 18  to 25 units and opting more fuel efficiency by the brand Airbus.
 

The real fact is that MAS are planning to replace their wide-body aircraft and also evaluating various options to ensure that the aircraft complement with their fleet replacement strategy. At the same time, they do believe in need to match the new aircraft to their famous network growth plans, especially for key markets such as South Asia, China, Australia and the Middle East.

MAS ordered the A380s in late 2003 through Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd, a leasing company owned by the Ministry of Finance. If the swap were to take place, MAS would likely phase out its entire fleet of Boeing wide-body aircraft comprising seventeen 777-200s and thirteen 747-400s.

With the current restructuring the aircraft in MAS, it had been a while which all the 777's and also 747's had made the strongest support for MAS in their long haul routes. 

Replica MAS A380

From swapping from Boeing to Airbus, MAS need to be very cautious and careful when planning either both A330's and A350's can produce the same service as Boeing had been producing for MAS. This is because the engineering in both Airbus and Boeing are both two different background. Can all MAS Pilots and engineering cope of handling different hydraulics and fly by wire system in a short time of period?

This would be great if MAS would consider of having detailed advise on the engineering and servicing all Airbus fleet from Air Asia. It also been reported that Air Asia are having options of loaning more Airbus A340's towards next year in conjunction of the route to United States.
 

In the current update, MAS already has an order for 35 narrow-body 737-800s, with another 20 on option, delivery of which will start in the fourth quarter of next year. However, these planes are more for regional flights and will be replacing most of its 737-400's. With the current updates in purchasing new aircraft by MAS, this would ensure the name of MH is always top in the world.

Passionate & Determination Is The key

Introducing Ramp Crew,Mr Nor Firdaus. He is well known with the name of “Bob” among Air Asia crew which is totally a suitable name for a tough and passionate person like him to be a ramp crew. Mr Firdaus handles the safety measurements in handling ground operations when an aircraft taxi at the tarmac. This includes maintaining a good alliance with the flight operations such as maintenance, towing aircraft, loading and offloading luggage, attending request of each aircraft, supplying man power and many more. With the unpredictable weather conditions no matter rain or shine, the responbilities been taken is not easy and simply challenging to handle it. With having numerous years of experience, Mr Firdaus and the other fellow crew handles it professionally and always been in ready mode physically and mentally.

When asked of his experience as a ramp crew, Mr Firdaus stated that being a ramp crew is simply challenging and adventurous. Why does he say that? Is because the normal routines and task cannot be forecast in a predictable order or schedule due to various technical issues being occurred for the ground crew such as ramp to be precise on how heavy luggage they will be handling, the efficiency of performing maintenance on aircraft, the logistic request been entertained and most important task performing safety duties in different types of weather conditions. In short, each of them should be ready to multi task in a short time of notification.

      As part Of Air Asia,Smiling is a Priority

So with the heavy task in his shoulders, fasting is not the reason why he should least his daily task. This year, Mr Firdaus will be on duty on both Hari Raya celebrations for the 4th year in a row. Even though it is something beyond he could expected, he said that job is job when ever the company needs you to fill in no matter any days in a year. He would not be celebrating the Raya celebration along but there is also some of his colleagues who are Muslims are also been assigned to be on duty too. He also stated that might be a small celebration within the crew will be held in order not feel sad but to boost up the team spirit.

The Honor Wearing The Uniform and Loyal Man Utd fan too

 

There are few interesting situation occurred while performing normal routine while fasting but he calmly stated that is all the real challenge in daily routine that he is use to handling it. It meant by, everyday is something interesting to share about. Fasting month also do influence the real patience being as a ramp. This is because frustrations do build up very often due to task had been done will bounce up to re-do all over again. Mr Firdaus was kind enough to share an experience just occurred on the day before I met him which is when a flight is ready to be take off, the numbers of passengers and the amount of luggage listed after checking-in is more than the number of passengers in the aircraft. That shows there is few passengers had not board into the plane. Therefore announcements had been made in terminal but the missing passengers did not turn up and the flight had been delayed due to missing passengers. The captain of the flight had instructed the ground crew to remove the luggage of the missing passengers in order to catch up the delay timing.

  Sharing Some Experince With Me

For Mr Firdaus, Air Asia always cares for its staff with over helming support in fulfilling religion responbilities. He is also glad all his non Muslims crew members really supports each other in filling up duties while the Muslims prepares for break-fasting and “Sahur”(the meal before sun rises). They even share the precious time by having meals in a big group no matter any religion you are in as mutual understanding always has been practiced well in Air Asia

 

( The Future Air Asia A350-900)

As I was reading the article of the latest airplanes been purchase by Air Asia, I begin to wonder the specialty of Airbus A350. Well, I would say that Airbus A350 is new step of aviation aeroplane which can fly more further range and also the weight which is light may reduce the fuel cost of a particular Airbus A350. So, I would like to wish to the CEO, Dato Tony Fernandes and all the ground and air space crew "Well Done & Congratulations" of purchasing 10 new Airbus A350. It been scheduled to arrive by 2016 in time of leasing off the Airbus A340. This would encourage more International routes around the world with Aibus A340 & Airbus A350.

( Air Asia A340 Route to London)

Proud Sponsor Of Oakland Raiders

So, most of you may ask what is so special with Airbus A350 ? Well the answer is simple,it is the next generation of replacing the Boeing 787 which is producing good market in the aviation industry. Based on my knowledge,this aircraft can occupy 314 passesngers and it is believe to save fuel cost by 60%. The cabin will feature a number of new features, as Airbus seeks to counter the new concepts introduced by Boeing in the cabin of the rival 787 twinjet. 

It is unclear the exact extent of the German automotive company's participation in the new interiors.

“There are new lighting features and shaping in the cabin,” says A350 chief engineer Dougie Hunter. “We can project onto the ceiling whatever is appropriate for the mood required – for example the night sky or clouds etc.” Hunter says that a concept around the door two area has a bar area and seating for economy.

“In the entrance area there is a dome that that gives us the feeling of spaciousness or openness in the cabin and configured for whatever mood you want to generate,” Hunter says.

Airbus has also improved the overhead bin design to increase their volume. “The number of bags that can be accommodated in the centre bin of the business area will be two standard roller bags per passenger,” says Hunter. “The economy bins can take one standard roller bag per passenger.” Quoted from Airbus website.

( The Airbus A350 cabin features various mood lighting settings to transform from daytime to nighttime )


(The cabin at night time)


( The overhead bins for the A350 will fit two roller cases per passenger for those travelling in business class and one per passenger for those in economy, Airbus says. )