KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: AirAsia X's service to Perth will start from Nov 2 and it is offering 5,000 free seats.

The offer will only be available for bookings today and tomorrow and for the travel period between Nov 2 and April 30.

"From midnight today (yesterday), you can try to get free seats to Perth. I've already received 27 SMSes from Malaysians and Australians in Perth asking what time they can start booking," AirAsia X director Datuk Tony Fernandes told reporters after the announcement of the long-haul destination here yesterday.

He said the average fare to Perth would be under RM400 including fuel surcharge and the return fare for business-class seats was about RM2,000.

"Many people have been asking when we are going to Perth. It has the largest Malaysian student population as well as Malaysians and Singaporeans," Fernandes said.

Perth is the third international destination following its launch to Hangzhou, China, in February with five return flights per week and to the Gold Coast Australia last November with four return flights.

AirAsia X will offer six return flights per week between Perth and here, and is already planning to increase to daily return flights by March 2009. The airline's new wide-bodied Airbus A330 aircraft will service the route.

When asked later about AirAsia still owing Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd RM5mil as raised in Parliament, Fernandes said the matter would be sorted out in the next few weeks.

"We're in dispute. The Finance Ministry is helping us sort it out. I am confident that we will sort it out soon. We obviously feel that we've been overcharged in some areas." -The Star, ANN