Malaysia's long-haul budget airline AirAsia X will launch a Kuala Lumpur-Paris route and#8212; its second stop in Europe and#8212; in February next year, the carrier's chief executive said Thursday.

The airline will start four direct flights to Paris' Orly Airport weekly from February 14, with one-way promotional fares as low as RM499 (99 Euros, US$160 dollars).

'We have always been enthusiastic in venturing into a new European country since we launched London,' AirAsia X's chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said in a statement.

'The establishment of this new route is a significant achievement for us and is a reflection of our commitment to expanding our international operations further.

The airline said the inaugural flight date was chosen as its Valentines Day gift for those 'who want to celebrate the occasion in the romantic city of Paris'.

Approval for the carrier to land in Paris was announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak during a visit to Paris last year after a meeting with French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

It will be the second route in Europe for Southeast Asia's biggest budget airline, after it began a London service in March last year.

An affiliate of regional low-cost carrier AirAsia and Virgin Group, AirAsia X was launched in January 2007. AirAsia and AirAsia X have common shareholders, including AirAsia founder and CEO Tony Fernandes.

The airline currently has eight aircraft and will have 11 by December. It has also placed an order for 17 Airbus A330s and 10 A340s. -- AFP