AirAsia Aviation Group is looking to disrupt South-east Asia’s aviation industry once more through a low-cost air ridesharing service in partnership with Avolon.
The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 16 to lease 100 VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Ireland-based Avolon. The aircraft can take four passengers and one pilot, flies at speed of up to 200mph, and produces zero operating emissions.
In addition to leasing the eVTOL aircraft to AirAsia, Avolon, through its investment and innovation affiliate Avolon-e, will partner with AirAsia to commercialise the aircraft and develop an industry leading urban air mobility (UAM) platform in South-east Asia.
Dómhnal Slattery, CEO of Avolon, said: “Together (with AirAsia) we will develop a ridesharing platform and bring the zero-emissions VX4 aircraft into service, positioning AirAsia as the operator of choice for sustainable air travel in the region.”
Tony Fernandez, CEO of Capital A, noted the huge tourism potential of this new mode of air transport, saying that it would be able to transport people to off-the-beaten-track destinations such as national parks as well as to tourist islands.
Asked about possible routes he foresees, he said “Kuala Lumpur to Genting (highlands) is a no-brainer”.
He expressed excitement over the “potential for zero-emissions ultra-shorthaul air travel in South-east Asia.”
The new air services are expected to commence in 2025. However, test flights will begin this April.
Currently, AirAsia is laying the groundwork by getting the necessary regulatory approvals and certifications, as well as looking at developing a new eco-system that includes launch and landing pads as well as pilot training.
Fernandez expects Malaysia to be the first destination to launch this new product, and said the local aviation authorities have been encouraging.
The pricing model will be kept as attractive as AirAsia in order to target the mass market. Fernandez wants it to be “very accessible to the world”.
Frasers Hospitality will open its first property in Phnom Penh come October 2022, the first of three openings slated for Cambodia over the next few years.
By 2026, Frasers Hospitality will have three properties in Cambodia – the 88-room Capri by Fraser, Phnom Penh in October 2022; the 78-room Capri by Fraser, City Centre in 2024; and the 200-room Fraser Residence Sen Sok, Phnom Penh in 2026.
Tonya Khong, senior vice president, head of Asia-Pacific at Frasers Hospitality, said: “Our three properties will be operational in the next few years and ready to accommodate the return to travel, as well as the anticipated boost from regional events such as the 2023 Southeast Asian Games and the RCEP. Moving into Cambodia signals our long-term ambition to grow our presence in the country and South-east Asia.”
Both Capri by Fraser properties are located in the heart of the Cambodian capital, and only a five-minute drive from each other. Both properties will have a mix of hotel rooms, studio apartments and one-bedroom units, designed to cater to transient business travellers and mid-level executives on extended stays.
In the vicinity are banks, finance, real estate and pharmaceutical companies, as well as non-profit organisations. The properties are also within walking distance of government offices, embassies, malls and F&B outlets.
Guests can expect the hallmarks of the Capri by Fraser brand such as the Spin & Play concept, where they can utilise self-service laundrettes while having a go at video games on the latest consoles, and a 24-hour gymnasium. Another signature social space is The Den, a large communal and versatile space fitted out with the latest technology.
Meanwhile, Fraser Residence Phnom Penh is in Sen Sok, an up-and-coming district on the north-west fringes of the city centre. Slated to accommodate expatriates on extended stays, the serviced apartment is part of an integrated development that includes a retail mall, medical centre and an office tower. It is also close to amenities such as international schools, malls and a golf course, and a 15-min drive to the CBD and industrial parks.