The 3000th Airbus off the assembly line at Airbus Industries flew straight into AirAsia’s arms and started commercial operations from its permanent base, Kota Kinabalu, today.

Low Cost Carrier AirAsia’s first Airbus destined for their East Malaysian hub, is the first of four planned for Kota Kinabalu and is the 32nd addition to AirAsia’s growing fleet of Airbus aircraft, scheduled to replace all Boeings by mid 2009.

By the end of 2008, Kota Kinabalu will serve its 3 international and 7 domestic AirAsia destinations with more comfortable, cost efficient Airbus aircraft only.

Airbus Benefits

The Airbus spells big savings for AirAsia, and by extension their passengers, because not only is it more economical to operate, but it also seats 20% more passengers than the current Boeings. With a potential arrival count of 180 passengers per flight, AirAsia’s new Airbus additionally promises a tourism injection for Kota Kinabalu.

Three routes will benefit from the new plane, namely Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to Macau. Operating on a rotation basis, the aircraft is scheduled for 3 return flights daily, starting with a return flight to KL, followed with a return to Kuching, and ending the day with a return to Macau.

Airbus Comfort

Taking no-frills to a new level of comfort, AirAsia’s new Airbus A320 is fitted with 180, plush leather seats, configured in two rows of 3.

The front half of the plane features seating slightly more spacious than currently on the Boeings, with a 30-inch seat-pitch, whilst the aft half of the plane features seats with a pitch equal to those of the Boeings, at 29-inches. Although half the seats have the same pitch as on AirAsia’s current Boeings, the space may appear more, thanks to the slightly wider leather seats.

In addition, the Airbus’s seats do not recline. However, from a space point of view, this is in fact a benefit, as it means that you will not end up with somebody’s head in your lap during the flight. You can therefore rest assured that the space you have when you sit down, is the space you’ll have throughout the entire flight.

With a current 11 flights daily from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur, be sure to catch Kota Kinabalu’s permanent resident, the AirAsia Airbus 320, on your next flight out.