Long-haul no-frills Thai AirAsia X (TAAX) is looking at flying to "exotic" destinations such as Iran from Bangkok.
Kamaruddin Meranun, AirAsia X group chief executive, specifically named Iran and China among the destinations that subsidiary TAAX will explore serving this year.
The Malaysian executive also said in a statement issued on Wednesday that TAAX will not expand flights to Japan and South Korea beyond the existing ones for the time being.
TAAX, 49% owned by Malaysia-based AirAsia X Bhd, appears to be exploring new routes more intensely as a backup plan if its core operations to Japan and South Korea continue to face restrictions from authorities.
Japan, South Korea and China have curbed new charter and scheduled flights by Thailand-registered airlines to their airports.
The restriction followed the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) designation of Thailand's Civil Aviation Department as having "significant safety concerns" after an audit earlier this year resulted in an appalling score.
TAAX's scheduled flights launched ahead of the designation of significant safety concerns — twice a day for Tokyo (Narita) and once a day each for Osaka and Incheon — remain unaffected.
But its daily service between Bangkok's Don Mueang airport and Sapporo's New Chitose airport has been temporarily allowed between May 1 and June 30.
The reprieve was granted on the condition that TAAX use its Malaysian parent AirAsia X's aeroplanes, pilots and crews and airline codes to operate the Bangkok-Sapporo service. This is a technical way around Japan's ban as AirAsia X's resources are Malaysian entities, while the ICAO designation only applies to Thailand.
TAAX insiders, who spoke yesterday on condition of anonymity, said Japan remains a top priority for the airline's expansion.
"Of course, we are looking at adding interesting new destinations around the world, but Japan remains the most preferred overseas destination for Thai travellers, one that TAAX is very keen to capitalise on," one of the sources said.
TAAX operates three Airbus A330-300 wide-body jets.