Malaysia's AirAsia offering 200 dollar return flights from Oz to London

Kuala Lumpur, June 9(ANI): Malaysian long-haul budget airline AirAsia, which is part owned by billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group, is offering return flights from Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne, to London from just 217 dollars.

The special package, which includes airport taxes and charges, is poised to reignite the cut-throat pricing war in the industry.

The offer is part of a sale that started at 2 a.m. on Wednesday and will run for 48 hours, or until sold out.

It is valid for travel between October 11 to November 14 this year, and includes a stopover in Kuala Lumpur.

Flight Centre spokesman Haydn Long said that AirAsia's cut-price sale might reignite the pricing war among airlines, as more Australians continue to travel overseas.

"AirAsia's sale may deliver further benefits to travelling public in that other airlines may be inclined to come up with eye catching special deals of their own," News.com.au quoted Long, as saying.

"It's important to remember though that only a limited number of seats are available at the headline prices, so the best advice is to get in early and take advantage of offers like these if you're planning to travel," he added.

The last time AirAsia had a sale of this magnitude, its website had failed to cope with the sheer number of people trying to book tickets.

The airline is already asking visitors to its website to be patient, warning that that they are receiving an "overwhelming response" from the promotion. (ANI)