Budget carrier AirAsia X announced it will end its flight service to Abu Dhabi for commercial reasons. AirAsia X is the long haul arm of low cost carrier Air Asia. The airline is now informing customers its last flight from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur will depart on February 21st. 

AirAsia X CEO explained they are discontinuing the flight service because there has been and “underwhelming” demand for tickets, aircraft are not economical, and because of the effects of the global financial slowdown on the aviation industry.  Azran Osman-Rani said “We are not going to be flying, period, until we figure out what’s the right strategy, the right hub, the right aircraft and we’ll probably come back again,” AirAsia X operated the flight on a four engine Airbus  A340 with 256 economy seats and 30 premium seats.