SINGAPORE - Several Asian governments have asked budget airline AirAsia to fly to their countries after the low-cost carrier forged a joint venture with Thailand, a company official said today.

AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes said the tie-up with a firm controlled by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family to establish a Thailand-based low-cost carrier has opened possibilities for other Asian governments.

Thaksin's Shin Corp will hold a 51 percent stake in the new airline, which aims to start operations in January.

"We opened up many people's eyes by what we did in Thailand," Fernandes told a news conference in Singapore, where AirAsia announced the first regional flight from its second hub in Senai Airport in southern Malaysia to Bangkok.

"Recently, many governments have approached us, not just one... governments that I wouldn't have even dreamt of approaching us," he said.

"I think we have triggered something. We've definitely changed the landscape of aviation here (in the region)."

He also said that "countries from outside of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have approached us."

While charges are normally higher in foreign airports, operators are offering deals and yields are higher in international flights.

"We are getting deals all the time. Airports are now coming to us and saying 'how about flying to this destination, we will give you this kind of deal'," he said.

Fernandes declined to name the countries. But he said Indonesia is one of the markets where AirAsia wants to bring its operations.

Pioneer in cut-price flights

The carrier, which pioneered cut-price flights in the region, would continue to serve the Asean market from its hubs in Kuala Lumpur and Senai airport in Johor Bahru at the doorstep of Singapore.

The first international flight from the Senai hub, a daily flight to Bangkok, will start in February, with a one-way ticket costing at least RM110, about 70-80 percent less than regular tickets.

From Senai, AirAsia also flies to five destinations in Malaysia - Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi, Miri and Penang.

Fernandes said AirAsia remains interested in flying out of Singapore despite not getting concessions on lower airport charges and discussions were continuing with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.

He also said there had been talks with the Singapore government's investment arm, Temasek Holdings which holds a substantial stake in Singapore Airlines, for a possible stake in AirAsia.

"We talked to them... but it's just talk at the moment. Don't make a headline out of of this. They (Temasek officials) talk to everyone and everyone talks to them."

With its Malaysia operations taking care of the Southeast Asian market, AirAsia's Thailand-based hub can serve areas outside the region, including parts of India and China as well as the huge Thai domestic market.

"You can't do everything out of Malaysia... Thailand is the centre of Asean tourism right now," Fernandes said.

He said a stock market listing "is on the drawing board" but gave no timetable.

"It's far away. Obviously there's a lot of interest from the investment community," he said. - AFP