Malaysia’s low cost carrier AirAsia is selling flights on more than 100 other global airlines on its website and app as it transforms airasia.com into a travel and lifestyle platform and to boost revenue.
This is made possible through a strategic partnership the carrier signed with Prague-based travel technology company Kiwi.com on Friday (15 November).
The deal gives access to AirAsia’s customers to destinations the airline does not currently serve including Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and the Americas. Bookings are now available for flights to London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Madrid, and Auckland.
“Today is an unbelievable day. When we started AirAsia as a low-cost airline back in 2001 I never thought one day we would be selling our competitors,” said AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes, who is also CEO of airasia.com.
“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s never say never. Never say never and believe the unbelievable. Today, with the help of Kiwi.com, we are reinventing ourselves as more than just an airline, bringing to life our vision for airasia.com to be the region’s one-stop travel shop.”
Beyond flights AirAsia is also looking at collaborating in other areas with airlines, said airasia.com head of airline distribution Rajiv Kumar. “In addition to the strategic partnership with Kiwi.com, which is focused on content and technology sharing, we are also exploring opportunities to partner directly with airlines and companies that complement our existing network and travel services beyond Asia Pacific.”
Commenting on the partnership Kiwi.com founder and chief executive officer Oliver Dlouhý said: “We have an abundance of airlines and ground carriers at our disposal, and together with AirAsia and its enormous customer base we are proud to be able to open their platform to the rest of the world.”
Kiwi.com, powered by its proprietary algorithm (virtual interlining), allows users to combine flights and ground transportation from over 750 carriers including many that do not normally cooperate. (Read WiT’s earlier interview with Dlouhý).
In August, AirAsia reshuffled its leadership to support its transformation into a travel and financial platform company and to build airasia.com into a lifestyle brand. The move separated its airline operations from airasia.com
The budget carrier said since the reorganisation more than 700 staff members have been recruited and are based across Asia Pacific. Additionally, a new airasia.com campus will open in central Kuala Lumpur early next year.
• Featured image credit (Airbus A320 neo aircraft): AirAsia
