AirAsia Expands Fleet for Future

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based AirAsia has recently announced in a press conference that they intend to purchase an additional twenty-five aircraft. The purchase is the second this year for the airline, and fourth since the 2005. The purchase agreement is for 25 Airbus A320 series aircraft. This will bring the total A320 series aircraft operated by AirAsia to well over 200 aircraft.

AirAsia group CEO Datuk Tony Fernades had the following to say at the press conference."This purchase is an important step for us at AirAsia as it signifies our future aggressive route expansion plans in tandem to our expected traffic growth over the next decade. It also demonstrates our commitment to enhance AirAsia's position on our networks by incorporating the most modern and efficient aircraft in the market. The addition of aircraft will be used to add frequency across the route network and introduce new routes. AirAsia's introduction to the aviation industry as an innovator has grown to the extent it is now a leader that sets the benchmark to others."

Also speaking at the press conference was Airbus CEO John Leahy. Leahy was very excited about this newest order, and had the following to say. "We have been extremely proud to be part of AirAsia's outstanding success and delighted that the confidence in the A320 has resulted in the airline now becoming the largest airline customer for this aircraft in the world. With its unbeatable economics and enormous passenger appeal, I am confident that the large A320 fleet is destined to propel AirAsia to the forefront of industry in the years ahead."

About AirAsia: AirAsia is based in Malaysia, but also operates two other airlines, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia, operating from their respective countries. The airline operates very similarly to US based Southwest Airlines, with no pre-assigned seating, quick turnaround times, and low cost fares. Today, the airline operates over 60 aircraft, some A320 series and other older Boeing 737's, which are quickly being replaced by the newly purchased A320's. The airline currently operates to 35 cities, but with over 150 aircraft on order, it can be assumed that operations will expand significantly in the region.

About the Airbus A320: The Airbus A320 is the staple of Airbus' narrow body airliner family, comprising of the A318, A319, A320 and A321. All feature common flight environments, engines and designs, allowing for enough familiarity for pilots to operate any of the aircraft of the family. The A320, as ordered by AirAsia, was the first aircraft of the family to be offered. Today, the A320 seats 180 people as configured by AirAsia, and will operate on routes of over 5,500 nautical miles, a very long flight for such a small aircraft.