AirAsia plans to develop a new hub in the Indonesian tourist destination of Lombok to help the island recover from the devasting 2018 earthquake.
The announcement follows a series of post-earthquake recovery discussions and is part of a move by the Indonesian government to develop tourism by replicating its success in Bali.
Lombok was hit by an earthquake last year which killed more than 500 people, left 430,000 displaced and damaged more than 74,000 homes,
“AirAsia will accelerate post-earthquake recovery efforts to support the communities of West Nusa Tenggara and the people of Lombok, AirAsia chief executive chief executive Tony Fernandes said.
“The past year has been a very sad and challenging time for the people of Lombok, including the local tourism industry which has suffered as a result of the recent earthquakes. To be able to say that help is on its way is a great thing.
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“In the next few months, we will be working with airports and government authorities to turn Lombok into our newest hub in Indonesia, making this commitment a reality.”
The airline expects to base two Airbus A320 aircraft on the island and double its existing frequency to Kuala Lumpur. This will make it easier for visitors from Europe to reach the island,
It will also operate services to the West Australian capital of Perth, Indonesia’s Yogyakarta and Bali.
“Lombok is a premier holiday destination in the region and AirAsia is ready to tell the world that it is open for business,’’ AirAsia Indonesia chief executive Dendy Kurniawan said.
“As an idyllic destination, Lombok has so much potential. We know that when we combine our resources and work with the tourism industry on marketing and public relations initiatives, we’re able to expand the market and drive greater demand for destination Lombok.”
AirAsia started international services from Kuala Lumpur to Lombok in October, 2012, and currently operates seven return flights per week between Lombok and Kuala Lumpur.
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