Asia's top budget carrier AirAsia plans to launch up to six new routes, including to destinations in Vietnam and Burma, from Malaysia this year, a report said today.

Chief executive Tony Fernandes said he wanted services to Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane in Laos and to Burma.

"For our Indonesian unit, we plan to reintroduce the Jakarta-Johor Baru sector and launch a new route between Jakarta and Kuching. I see a lot of connectivity happening," Fernandes said in the Star report.

Fernandes said AirAsia was still pushing hard to gain access to the profitable Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route.

"Competition is good and we are pushing hard to open the route. Ultimately, Malaysia will benefit and I welcome other low-cost carriers to operate here as well," he said.

AirAsia last week said its net profit for the six months to December soared jumped to RM227 million from RM59.9 million.

AirAsia was launched as a budget carrier in December 2001 with just two aircraft.

It now offers more than 100 domestic and international flights to Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.