Asian airlines are betting on "pent-up" demand with a new US$ 1.4 billion advertising campaign run by the 18-member Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

As suggested in previous items in Asian Market Research News, regional travel is being targeted by much of the Asian travel industry, especially as Asian economic recovery builds up.

According to the IRNA, to "restore public confidence in flying," Malaysian Airlines (MAS) announced on Saturday that it was embarking on a media advertising campaign in 10 Asian countries."

Malaysia Airlines in particular are lowering prices to some destinations and revising visa restrictions for the fast growing in-bound Indian market.

After a rocky few years in the management and ownership arena, Malaysia Airlines is still a favourite in the APMF's Best Airlines in Asia survey, but misses out to Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Thai International due to the lesser amount of connections from their Kuala Lumpur hub - the KLIA.