SINGAPORE - Cut-price Malaysian airline AirAsia will expand its routes into neighbouring Singapore only if it can secure cheap operational costs in the island-state, the carrier's chief executive said here today.

Tony Fernandes told reporters while on a short visit to Singapore to explore business opportunities that high costs at Singapore's Changi airport were the biggest obstacles to AirAsia's expansion plans here.

"The key to this airline's success is price," Fernandes said.