[Kurt A]

Here's the article from Travel today

Bidding war for LCC escalates

AirAsia X has delayed an announcement on its second Australian hub after it was revealed a third Australian airport is now vying for the carrier’s services.

Avalon and Melbourne airports had been lobbying the airline, but the carrier’s chief executive Azran Osman- Rani told Travel Today the announcement has been pushed back a couple of months, with flights not expected until the fourth quarter.

“We had a good idea where we wanted to fly but we received a very attractive proposition from another Australian airport in another state,” Osman-Rani said.

He said the airport has the infrastructure in place to receive the Airbus A330 immediately. Sydney has been considered in the past but the presence of Jetstar makes it an unlikely choice.

One source suggested AirAsia X was trying to drive up the price on Avalon and Melbourne. Osman-Rani also dismissed media speculation that passengers will be able to fly from Gold Coast to London for just $1000 later this year.

“That might be the intent, but it has been blown out o proportion and really it is no more than a pipedream. We don’t even have the long range aircraft to do KL to London Stansted,” he added.

AirAsia X will today announce options for 10 Airbus A330 aircraft, taking its fleet to 25 aircraft.