Malaysia's AirAsia Airlines is now the first non-US airline to take flights straight from Asia to the United States. The implications of this evolution include cheaper flights for Asian travelers heading to Hawaii or Los Angeles.
According to CNN Money, AirAsia Airlines will work with AirAsia X in finalizing its US route plans. AirAsia X, operating in Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific flights, may handle the bulk of transportation duties. AirAsia's US ventures evolution ranks it amongst Norwegian Airlines and Wow Air from island that both provide affordable direct flights into the United States.
According to Conde Nast Traveler, citing an interview with AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Kamarudin Meranun, AirAsia's expansion has the company "excited about our first foray into an entirely new market." Founded in Asia by Tony Fernandes, AirAsia has been synonymous in its operating regions with affordable flights -- but the Western world may only remember it for its Borneo airplane crash that killed all 162 passengers caused by pilot error last December 2014.
Most travelers are concerned with the Asian airline company's safety record, particularly its reliability. According to AirlineQuality.com, AirAsia customers rate it 6 out of 10 or 3 out of 5 stars with only AirAsia's staff having redeeming qualities at four stars. In-flight entertainment was ranked one out of five stars, and the airline only had lackluster food,and beverage rated with 3 out of 5 stars. But customers rated it high for value of money being a budget airline.
Budget airlines are highly susceptible to pilot error given the tight schedule causing immense stress to navigation. Piloting -- set to become one of the biggest careers of 2017 -- is also listed as the most stressful type of work in the world for the year in line with the work of frontline soldiers and fire response teams.
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