The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) granted air traffic rights between Kuala Lumpur and Naha in Okinawa to AirAsia. The rights were granted for four weekly flights starting in April 2024. AirAsia will have six months from that point to inaugurate the flights.
While further details about the 2,359-mile route are not known yet, it is likely to be operated by either the A320-200 or A320neo, the two most common types in the airline’s fleet. The former can seat 180 passengers and the latter 186.
If AirAsia launches the route as outlined by MAVCOM, it will be the second time for the group to serve Naha out of Kuala Lumpur. On January 22, 2020, AirAsia X inaugurated four weekly Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan – Naha flights which, due to the pandemic, were shortlived. Currently, the same one-stop route is served by Batik Air Malaysia (former Malidndo).
There are no non-stop flights between the Malaysian capital and Naha now. At this point, it appears that if the AirAsia flights materialize, they will be non-stop.
Separately, Thai AirAsia also plans to launch flights to Naha, from Bangkok Don Muang, in April 2024 too.
