KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: AirAsia X began operating flights between Kuala Lumpur and Hangzhou in China, the low-cost carrier's second foreign destination.

The first flight left KL International Airport's low-cost carrier terminal yesterday morning.

Hangzhou is located about two hours from Shanghai by bus.

AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani joined the passengers on the first flight.

The company, in a press release, said that more than 10,000 seats valued at some RM5 million (S$2.2 million) had been snapped up for between February and March.