Recently, AirAsia announced its plan to launch three fifth freedom routes from Taiwan to Japan as part of its plan to turn Taiwan into a virtual hub. The plan appears to have been scaled down, however, as AirAsia X removed its planned Taipei Taoyuan – Tokyo Narita route from its schedule.
Originally, AirAsia X was planning to extend one of its existing Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan rotations from May 31, 2024, to include the following fifth freedom flights operated by A330-300 aircraft:
- D7378 / Taipei Taoyuan – Tokyo Narita / 3:50PM – 8:20PM
- D7379 / Tokyo Narita – Taipei Taoyuan / 9:35PM – 12:10AM+1
The route is not available for booking anymore and reports have appeared of existing reservations on the route being automatically canceled.
Later on March 28, 2024, the company made a statement saying it was instructed to suspend the planned route resumption by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and reassuring passengers its remaining flights to Japan were not affected.
It is unclear whether AirAsia X is canceling its plan to resume the route which operated until 2020 altogether or postponing it to a later date. The plans of its sister company Thai AirAsia to launch Taipei Taoyuan – Naha and Kaohsiung – Tokyo Narita in June 2024 appear intact.
First published on March 28, 2024. Updated on March 29, 2024, to include information from AirAsia’s official statement.
