AirAsia X Orders Another 12 A330neo And 30 A321XLR



Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is indeed heading into the fourth quarter of the year on a high note as AirAsia X, the long-range premium branch of AirAsia Group, has placed a firm order to Airbus for another 12 A330-900 and 30 A321XLR aircraft. The contract was inked today in a well attended signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. Air Asia recently received its first A330neo as reported here.https://aviationroundtable.blogspot.com/2019/08/air-asia-takes-delivery-of-its-first.html?m=1

In a statement to mark the occasion, Sri Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Group, present at the event, said that “This request comes to reaffirm the choice of the A330neo as the most efficient option for our future fleet of wide-cabin aircraft. In addition, the A321XLR, with greater autonomy than any other single-aisle aircraft, will facilitate the introduction of new services to other destinations. Together, these aircraft form the perfect combination for long-range and low-cost operations and will allow us to continue consolidating our position as market leaders in this fast-growing sector. ”

Furthermore, Guillaume Faury, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus highlighted that “AirAsia X has pioneered the long-distance and low-cost model in the Asia-Pacific region. This new order of the A330neo and the A321XLR is a true commitment to the Airbus solution to meet the demand of the middle market with a combination of single aisle and wide cab products. This powerful solution will provide AirAsia X with the lowest possible operating costs and the possibility of expanding its network so that more people can fly farther than ever. ”

The new contract raises the number of A330neos commissioned by AirAsia X to 78, reaffirming the position of the airline as the largest customer of this type of aircraft. The order of the A321XLR reinforces at the same time the position of AirAsia Group as the world's largest customer of the A320 Family, with a total of 622 aircraft ordered.

AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of 36 A330-300 with service to destinations within the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. Also, in August, the long-distance subsidiary of AirAsia, AirAsia X Thailand, based in Bangkok, saw the first A330neo join its fleet. This is the first of the two A330neo acquired on leasing by the airline, which will swell the fleet of its Thai subsidiary by the end of the year.
The A321XLR is the next evolutionary advance of the A321LR and responds to the needs of the market for greater autonomy and payload to create more value for airlines. As of 2023, it will offer an unprecedented ultra-long range of up to 4,700nm, that is, 15% more than the A321LR, with fuel consumption per seat lower by 30% than that of competing aircraft of previous generations.

The A330neo is a true new generation aircraft that takes advantage of the success of the A330 and the technology of the A350 XWB. It incorporates the efficient new generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and a new, larger wing, optimized in 3D with new Sharklet devices. Together, these advances translate into a significant reduction in fuel consumption of 25%, compared to competing aircraft of previous generations and similar size. The A330 is one of the most popular wide-cabin aircraft families in history, with more than 1,700 orders from more than 120 customers.

Picture credit: Airbus

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