AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur International) has chosen Sydney Kingsford Smith as its first destination as it resumes scheduled flight operations from Kuala Lumpur International in the wake of its debt restructuring process, with the service commencing on February 14, it announced in a statement.

Describing itself as “the medium-haul, low-cost affiliate” of AirAsia Group - which finalised the name change of its listed holding company to Capital A last week - AirAsia X will at first be “prioritising full redemptions” for passengers whose flights were affected by the restructuring.

The route will initially be 1x weekly until March 22, operating on Mondays from Malaysia and returning on Tuesdays. Schedules beyond that will be announced in mid-February.

“Without any domestic routes, AAX has been significantly affected by the pandemic. We now see light at the end of this long tunnel and we are working hard to operate again in all of our key markets,” AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said, adding that the carrier would progressively honour outstanding bookings in other markets as international borders reopen.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of eighteen A330-300s. Subsidiary Thai AirAsia X (XJ, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi), which plans to enter its own formal restructuring in 2022 and seek new investors to finance a relaunch, operates a further seven A330-300s and two A330-900s.