More flights for AirAsia and Tune Insurance IPO

More AirAsia flights for local destinations, international route

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd has embarked on its expansion plans for 2013 by offering additional flights to six domestic destinations and one international route.

The low-cost carrier said on Tuesday the additional frequencies would be from four selected hubs in Malaysia.

AirAsia said the additional flights from the Kuala Lumpur hub would be to Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, Sibu, Kuching and Johor Bahru.

There would also be additional flights from the Johor Bahru hub to Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Penang.

As for the Penang hub, there would be added frequencies to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, as well as from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching.

AirAsia commercial director Jasmine Lee said: "The additional frequencies from our various hubs will be an added convenience factor for our guests, especially for those who are time-sensitive, such as business travellers."

These additional frequencies and new routes will start from Feb 1 to March 4, 2013.

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AirAsia adds frequency to domestic flights

AirAsia Bhd is introducing additional frequencies to six domestic destinations and one international route from four
of the hubs in Malaysia as part of the low-cost airline's expansion plans this year.

The additional frequencies from the Kuala Lumpur hub will be to Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, Sibu, Kuching and Johor Baharu, while the Johor Baharu hub will see additional frequencies to Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Penang.

There will also be added frequencies from Penang to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, as well as from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching.

Commercial Director of AirAsia Jasmine Lee said the new frequencies will provide more convenient flight timings for the budget carrier's guests.

"The additional frequencies from our various hubs will be an added convenience factor for our guests, especially for those who are time-sensitive, such as business travellers," she said in a statement today.

The commencement dates for these additional frequencies and new routes range between Feb 1 to March 4, 2013 and guests can check for the respective commencement dates at www.airasia.com. -- Bernama

Read more: AirAsia adds frequency to domestic flights http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130108154432/Article/#ixzz2HO9FTAZF


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AirAsia to launch Tune Insurance IPO

The founders of Malaysia’s AirAsia Bhd are expected to launch a 65 million initial public offering (IPO) of Tune Insurance Bhd by the end of February, two sources close to the deal told Reuters.

The flotation would be the first of three IPOs due to raise a combined 500 million that Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun, founders of Asia’s largest budget carrier, are planning this year.

“An investor road show will begin towards the end of this month,” one of the sources said, declining to be named as the matter is still private. Tune Insurance officials were not immediately available to comment.

The company, a unit of financial services-to-discount hotel conglomerate Tune Group owned by Fernandes and Kamarudin, is looking at a market capitalisation of RM1.2 billion upon listing, the sources said.

The IPO, comprising 210 million shares, will help to fund Tune Insurance’s expansion plans in the underinsured Southeast Asia region, Fernandes told reporters last September.

RHB Investment Bank is the principal adviser for the IPO. CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, CLSA, ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd and RHB are the joint book runners. -- Reuters

Read more: AirAsia to launch Tune Insurance IPOhttp://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130108150945/Article/#ixzz2HO9WIeZN