Saving Airasia Group and Airasia X: Covid-19 Recovery Thread

[JuliusWong 0]

Low-cost airline kingpin Tony Fernandes prepares for life after AirAsia

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/664413?utm_source=Newswav&utm_medium=Website

Quote

“Good leadership is to know when to go,” Fernandes said in a recent interview in Singapore. “Aviation as my journey might be coming to an end. I’ve got to talk about succession planning. Exactly when I press the button, I don’t know, but I want to talk about it because I want to attract the right leaders.”

Well, he has previously said the same, a few times in the past, but in the end he returned to managing daily AirAsia affair,  so I will take this with pinch of salt.

[flee 5]

AirAsia X Q1 passenger traffic up 50pc to 504,476, ASK surges to 71pc

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2023/04/28/airasia-x-q1-passenger-traffic-up-50pc-to-504476-ask-surges-to-71pc/66850

[JuliusWong 0]

First AirAsia X KUL-BKK-KUL flight, D77170/7171 landed today.

https://www.facebook.com/BangkokFlightServices/posts/pfbid02ULLmcZM72PMa1Hor3YioLZNNxNviCU3Dh9hgMcDayRpAN4ixythrxrmaarzEvp1Pl

Will be fun to see Batik Air does the same. Hahaha!

[Zamir 0]

AIRASIA RESUMES PENANG – HONG KONG SERVICE FROM AUGUST 2023

AirAsia from August 2023 plans to resume Penang – Hong Kong nonstop service, last served by the airline until May 2013. Upon resumption on 10AUG23, the airline will offer 3 weekly flights on this route, with Airbus A320ceo aircraft.
 
AK2281 PEN0630 – 1030HKG 320 246
AK2280 HKG1115 – 1455PEN 320 246

[JuliusWong 0]

Intra-AirAsia Group fleet movement:

1. A320-214   MSN 4964          HS-ABY     Thai Air Asia     ferried 01 June 2023 DMK-CGK prior transfer to Indonesia AirAsia     ex 9M-AQK
2. A320-216   MSN 6702          JA01DJ     AirAsia     ferried 03 June 2023 KUL-SZB     ex F-WWBV

Source: https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb.main?LC=nav4&page=1

[flee 5]

14 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

Intra-AirAsia Group fleet movement:

1. A320-216   MSN 6702          JA01DJ     AirAsia     ferried 03 June 2023 KUL-SZB     ex F-WWBV

This should be re-registered as 9M-RAW

[JuliusWong 0]

Updated seat option page now includes the ex-PR A330-300 seat map configuration: 

[JuliusWong 0]

On 12/22/2022 at 3:30 PM, JuliusWong said:

Vietjet will be adding four more former AirAsia X Group A330-343E as they plan for more larger long haul network with points in Australia, Middle East and Eastern Europe.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/298175/vietjet-plans-more-a330s-for-larger-long-haul-network/

New Registration No./ MSN No/ Previous Registration No./ Lessor

1. VN-A810    MSN 952    9M-XXA, leased from ICBC
2. VN-A811    MSN 974    9M-XXB, leased from ICBC
3. VN-A812    MSN 1165  9M-XXH, leased from ICBC
4. VN-             MSN 1659  9M-XBC, leased from BOC
5. VN-             MSN 1646  HS-XTF, leased from BOC
6. VN-             MSN 1670  9M-XBB, leased from BOC
7. VN-             MSN 1674  9M-XBA, leased from BOC

They also have added a new A330 door trainer. https://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/training/spatial-welcomes-new-order-for-a330-door-trainer-for-vietjet-air

Looks like AirAsia X Group downfall is Vietjet's rise. Those A330s they are now having come with AirAsia X's J-class cabin and the Y-class are refreshed in black-red leather. Vietjet is getting all these airframes on a silver platter by AirAsia X. 

Following the delivery completion of first batch of six A330-300, Vietjet will add three additional A330-300, possibly again all from Capital A.

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/vietjet-aims-to-add-three-more-airbus-a330-aircraft-to-fleet

Edited June 7, 2023 by JuliusWong

[flee 5]

I think that VietJet has been very fortunate in that respect. However, they will need to refurbish the cabins at some point in time as those J seats are getting a little long in the tooth.

D7 is still financially weak and had to recently raise RM 50m just to reactivate their old planes. It looks like the ex PR planes will remain in their original config for some time.

D7 should probably think of taking their A339s sooner - like by 2025 - to avoid needing to refresh their old planes' cabins. They really need seats with USB charging to be more competitive. Back packers really need to charge their devices on their flights!

[JuliusWong 0]

5 hours ago, flee said:

I think that VietJet has been very fortunate in that respect. However, they will need to refurbish the cabins at some point in time as those J seats are getting a little long in the tooth.

D7 is still financially weak and had to recently raise RM 50m just to reactivate their old planes. It looks like the ex PR planes will remain in their original config for some time.

D7 should probably think of taking their A339s sooner - like by 2025 - to avoid needing to refresh their old planes' cabins. They really need seats with USB charging to be more competitive. Back packers really need to charge their devices on their flights!

The A330-900neo will be coming in 2026, based on the terms agreed when they shaved off majority of their 78 units order. A321XLR will be coming in Q4, 2024/2025 at earliest, however this maybe delayed due to delay in A321XLR certification. So far it has been delayed for 1.5 years. 

Their USB charging port in the current Mirius seats on board A321neo is shitty, can't even charge more than two bars of battery.

Edited June 8, 2023 by JuliusWong

[JuliusWong 0]

On 4/19/2023 at 4:27 PM, JuliusWong said:

Rumoured AirAsia X's newest pre-loved A330-343X, did air test in KUL recently.

Source: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10909520, https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/airbus-a330-300-oe-itb-bbam/rqp5m2

Ex-Singapore Airlines 9V-SSF, 8 years old.

Delivered to SQ on March 30, 2015.

Withdrawn from use March 13, 2021

Spent the last three years in storage. 

Re-registered as 9M-XBH.

Source: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10975014

They also inducted MSN1633, ex-Singapore Airlines 9V-SSG as 9M-XBI. 

[JuliusWong 0]

Intra-AirAsia Group fleet movement:

A320 -216 MSN 3404  PK-AZU Indonesia AirAsia first in sc 06jun23 CGK-DTB-CGK after transfer ex 9M-AFW

New addition to Group fleet movement:

A320-214  MSN 4688  PK-AZX     Indonesia AirAsia     at TPA 01jun23 after paint, N-reg prior delivery     ex N211FR

Source: https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb.main?LC=nav4&page=1, https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10968393

Edited June 12, 2023 by JuliusWong

[JuliusWong 0]

AirAsia X Resumes Amritsar Service From Sep 2023 - NS23
Published at 0100GMT 13JUN23

AirAsia X from September 2023 plans to resume Kuala Lumpur – Amritsar service, last served regularly until April 2020. The airline will operate first flight on 03SEP23, scheduled 4 times weekly with Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

D7188 KUL0735 – 1100ATQ 333 17
D7188 KUL2025 – 2350ATQ 333 35

D7189 ATQ0100 – 0925KUL 333 46
D7189 ATQ1230 – 2055KUL 333 17

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230613-d7sep23atq

[JuliusWong 0]

On 5/26/2023 at 3:38 PM, JuliusWong said:

First AirAsia X KUL-BKK-KUL flight, D77170/7171 landed today.

https://www.facebook.com/BangkokFlightServices/posts/pfbid02ULLmcZM72PMa1Hor3YioLZNNxNviCU3Dh9hgMcDayRpAN4ixythrxrmaarzEvp1Pl

Will be fun to see Batik Air does the same. Hahaha!

AirAsia X Schedules Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok Service From May 2023
NS23 Published at 1800GMT 10APR23

AirAsia X from late-May 2023 is adding new scheduled service to Thailand, as the airline schedules Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi flight. From 21MAY23, Airbus A330-300 aircraft will operate this route 5 times weekly.

D7170 KUL1010 – 1125BKK 333 x13
D7171 BKK1305 – 1625KUL 333 x135
D7171 BKK1310 – 1630KUL 333 5

Thai AirAsia in recent schedule update already adjusted frequencies on this route, reduced from 2 to 1 daily. It continues to offer 2 daily Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok Don Mueang service.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230410-d7bkk

Edited June 15, 2023 by JuliusWong

[JuliusWong 0]

AirAsia spread its wings with 19 new planes arriving this year

By T.N.Alagesh - June 21, 2023 @ 10:41am

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/922553/airasia-spread-its-wings-19-new-planes-arriving-year?fbclid=IwAR17ca-aBhIUnvVTD1mGob0VpTiydjXiz7y7HLep_DCpZ1tMMEjpdEWQA6k

PARIS: Low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to spread its wings with the purchase of 19 new planes as part of its fleet expansion plan.

Capital A chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the first one - an Airbus 320 - will be arriving next month.

"The addition of 19 new planes which will take flight this year, includes four Frontier planes. Currently, 170 planes are already back in service across the Group and AirAsia expects to have all 204 reactivated by the end of August this year.

Upcoming additions:

1.    9M-RCF     MSN 4562    ex-Frontier N208FR, AirAsia India VT-SXR    
2.    9M-RCG    MSN 4641    ex-Frontier N209FR, AirAsia India VT-CCU
3.    PK-             MSN 4668    ex-Frontier N210FR (new addition)
4.    PK-AZX     MSN 4688    ex-Frontier N211FR (new addition)
5.    PK-             MSN 4704    ex-Frontier N213FR (new addition)
6.    PK-             MSN 4745    ex-Frontier N216FR (new addition)
7.    9M-RCC    MSN 5109    ex-TAM Linhas Aeras, AirAsia India VT-IXC    
8.    9M-RAW   MSN 6702    ex-AirAsia Japan JA01DJ

Source: https://www.planespotters.net/airline/AirAsia-Group

[JuliusWong 0]

New addition to Group fleet movement:

A320-214   MSN 4668          PK-AZW     Indonesia AirAsia     delivery 15-18jul23 TPA-BGR-KEF-CAI-KHI-JHB, N-reg     ex N210FR

Source: https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb.main?LC=nav4&page=1

[flee 5]

AirAsia X applies to exit PN17 status

https://newsroom.airasia.com/news/2023/7/21/airasia-x-applies-to-exit-pn17-status#gsc.tab=0

AirAsia X rises 10% on report of impending bid to exit PN17 status

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/675043

 

D7 has a lot of catching up to do - hope that they can do that ASAP!

[JuliusWong 0]

On 6/7/2023 at 11:07 AM, JuliusWong said:

Updated seat option page now includes the ex-PR A330-300 seat map configuration: 

 

airasia.com "Seat Option" page is now updated with four different A330 configuration.

1. Type A: factory built A330-300 and A330-900 (12W 365Y = 377)
2. Type B: ex-China Eastern Airlines A330-300 (367Y)
3. Type C : ex-Philippines Airlines A330-300 (18C 24W 267Y = 309)
4. Type D : ex-Singapore Airlines A330-300 ( 30C 255Y = 285)   

[flee 5]

Wow with the SQ seat density so low, it should only be used on higher yield routes. I wonder when will D7 reconfigure these premium cabins. Their fares now are much closer to those on FSCs. So maybe they can make some money with these aircraft!

[jahur 0]

9M-VVA seems to be prepped again for BKI after months of hibernation.

[flee 5]

35 minutes ago, jahur said:

9M-VVA seems to be prepped again for BKI after months of hibernation.

It has been doing the DMK run recently.

[JuliusWong 0]

Capital A plans widebody Airbus order for AirAsia

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/132062-capital-a-plans-widebody-airbus-order-for-airasia

The CEO of Capital A, the entity behind AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International) and other AirAsia brands, has indicated the company is working on a fresh aircraft order, most likely with Airbus, and that the additional aircraft will facilitate a major network expansion.

Speaking to Channel News Asia (CNA) at the Milken Institute Asia Summit in Singapore on September 14, CEO Tony Fernandes said he wanted to add more capacity across his airlines and that a new aircraft purchase would assist. "We are in discussions with manufacturers for a widebody order," he said, noting that the dealings were primarily with Airbus but added that Boeing had also made offers.

The AirAsia Aviation Group of regional airlines, which includes Philippine Airlines, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, in addition to the headline Malaysian AOC airline, flies a fleet of Airbus narrowbodies. The latest Airbus delivery data shows some 362 A321neo Family aircraft are on order. The medium and long haul airlines, AirAsia X and Thai AirAsia X, operate A330-type aircraft but are flagged to take delivery of A321-200NY(XLR)s in the future. An order for thirteen A330-900Ns also remains undelivered.

[flee 5]

Why do they need widebodies for 4 hour flights? Does it look like they may be preparing for a merger with D7? The regional version of the A339 would be suitable but I am not sure if the economics of operating that type of aircraft is as good as that of the A321N unless carrying cargo is going to become more important in AK flights. But that would slow down turnaround times.

Edited September 27, 2023 by flee

[jahur 0]

1 hour ago, flee said:

Why do they need widebodies for 4 hour flights? Does it look like they may be preparing for a merger with D7? The regional version of the A339 would be suitable but I am not sure if the economics of operating that type of aircraft is as good as that of the A321N unless carrying cargo is going to become more important in AK flights. But that would slow down turnaround times.

Slots are limited for some of the sectors. 240 pax vs 377 can make a lot of difference on peak timing. 

[JuliusWong 0]

AirAsia secures five-year term loan facility of up to US$150m

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2023/10/03/airasia-secures-five-year-term-loan-facility-of-up-to-us150m/94226

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — AirAsia Bhd has accepted a five-year term loan of up to US$150 million (RM705 million) from a financial institution.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, Capital A Bhd, the parent company of AirAsia, said the airline will use the loan for working capital requirements and fund aircrafts and engine maintenance costs.

“The term loan was secured by, inter-alia, a corporate guarantee from Capital A, which shall remain throughout the term of the term loan,” it said.

Capital A added Bank Negara Malaysia on Sept 19, 2023, approved AirAsia’s application for the term loan under its Foreign Exchange Policy. — Bernama

Additional information from TheEdge: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/684728

As at June 30, 2023, Capital A’s total borrowings stood at RM724.97 million, while its cash balances stood at RM735 million, according to its latest financial statement.

Capital A slipped into PN17 status in January 2022, after its external auditor Messrs Ernst & Young PLT raised material concerns about the airline’s ability to continue as a going concern in its audited financial statements for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2019, and as its shareholders’ equity fell below 50% of its share capital.

Capital A’s shares dropped 1.5 sen to 96 sen on Tuesday, valuing the group at RM4.05 billion. The stock has climbed by 47.7% year-to-date.

Capital A debt ratio remains high, could this be the reason why they have been delaying its PN17 regularisation plan?