S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2011-01-26)

AIRASIA X’s four-weekly direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris commencing on February 14 are being hailed by inbound players as a huge opportunity to cater to an under-tapped market.

The route is currently served only by Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) daily flights.

Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours CEO, Alex Lee, said the country had previously lost out on French business to neighbouring Thailand and Singapore due to insufficient seats on MAS' services.

The additional 1,308 seats weekly would ease the supply crunch during peak travel periods such as the European summer and winter seasons, he added.

Grace Holidays general manager Godwin Miranda said the company would resume marketing efforts to France, which were stopped in 1994, and also look at Swiss and Belgian customers. 

Grace has already developed itineraries for eco-tourism packages in Peninsular Malaysia, and will start promoting East Malaysia to French-speaking markets in the second half of the year.