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Air Asia X to buy long haul Airbus A330 jets

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from what i've been informed, part of the KLIA future masterplan will be scrap to facilitate the permanent LCCT...the permanent LCCT will be located exactly behind the MTB ( main terminal bulding )....this permanent LCCt will have direct access to both runways...

 

But I tend to believe that the permanent LCCT will occupy the Present Site + KLAS + ACC

(Have direct access to both runways. Have 'airside' connectivity to MTB/Satellite terminals. Cheaper to develop as the existing KLAS/ACC complexes can be easily converted into passenger terminal):

472147380_6784a4a188_o.jpg

 

 

ACC/KLAS complexes may be moved to 'permanent' Cargo Complex area:

472147386_c681ad6ff2_o.jpg

 

 

I arrived at the above conclusions as I believe that:

1) In order to offer lowest possible LCCT airport taxes (as demanded by Airasia etc.), MAHB must be very very prudent on their LCCT capex.

2) The existing ACC/KLAS cargo complex area have limited room for 'long-term' expansions (if not mistaken design capacity only 1mn ton p.a.)

 

 

:)

 

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we just wait and see then....

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I think AK is becoming too ambitious. Such rapid expansion may backfire completely unless AK mature fast enough in China, India and the Middle East before other low cost airlines can fight neck to neck with AK. The most likely reason for AK to choose airbus over boeing is that airbus tend to offer great discounts and packages which boeing usually don't. It's like those free goodies that companies give to attract customers when they are in desperate times. Just hope the seats in AK A330 will be more comfortable than MH's A330. And hopefully they have personal inflight entertainment system. I'm not hoping for MH B777's inflight entertainment system but rather they should at least provide optional rental portable entertainment system like Silkair's. =)

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How come runway 3 align with runway?

 

Looks like the expansion at KUL will only be the LCC-T...................

Edited by Seth K

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Good move to include MOW (Asia is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination amongst the Russians), but PRG ??? :o :nea:

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How they going to secure landing rights at Paris ?!! By ordering the 330's ?

If AK does get to fly there, it will really irk MH no end I guess - buy 380 also cannot get the extra frequencies after years of talk !! :)

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How they going to secure landing rights at Paris ?!! By ordering the 330's ?

If AK does get to fly there, it will really irk MH no end I guess - buy 380 also cannot get the extra frequencies after years of talk !! :)

 

My feeling is, they'll operate into Chalons-en-Champagne :pardon:

 

It's not too far East of Paris and new passenger Terminal, long runway and very cheap landing- and handling charges :good:

 

For some pictures of the airport, see my F50 training session topic ;)

 

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So the long protracted Malaysia-France negotiations & bargaining on air services agreement hasn't been about frequencies into Paris really, more about securing additional slots at CDG for MH ?

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Wow! These ppl never take a breather!

 

+++

 

 

FAX in talks with Airbus for 10 more planes

By Anna Maria Samsudin

bt@nstp.com.my

 

April 30 2007

 

FLY Asian Xpress (FAX) is already in talks with the European airframe maker Airbus to purchase 10 more A330-300 planes, less than a week after signing 10 firm orders for the planes with the option to buy five more.

 

Looking at the strong relationship between the two companies, its chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun is optimistic that Airbus can accommodate the additional orders.

 

He is also upbeat the airline will not be short of options to finance the next round of aircraft purchases, estimated to cost US$1.75 billion (RM5.99 billion), based on its catalogue price of US$175 million (RM598.5 million) per plane.

 

"The A330s aircraft is very much in demand in the market right now. Since FAX would need 25 aircraft within the next five years to operate the AirAsia Long Haul routes, I think it is better for us to place the orders for the additional 10 planes now.

 

"As for financing, everything is taken care off. We are not short of financial institutions, as well as investors, who are keen to back us up on this deal. I am happy with the response as it shows that they believe in our business model," he told Business Times yesterday.

 

FAX's earlier 15 plane orders, with an estimated cost of US$2.63 billion (RM8.99 billion), will be delivered between September 2008 and 2011.

 

It will raise funds to finance the aircraft purchase exercise through bank borrowings and share sales.

 

Kamarudin said FAX is close to announcing its engine selection for the new planes. It is also undergoing some management reshuffle to further beef up operations.

 

"FAX, with the long-haul operations, is going to be big. We need dynamic people to manage the company. We will soon announce some new appointments," he added.

 

FAX's maiden long-haul flight is expected to take off by September this year, and at the initial stage, the airline will operate with three leased A330s.

 

To date, FAX has leased one A330-300 and is in the process of looking for two more of such aircraft type.

 

Its target destinations include Japan, South Korea, China, India, Australia, the Middle East and Europe.

 

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/M...02.txt/Article/

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Wow! These ppl never take a breather!

 

Hopefully, it won't become a second PEOPLExpress (by rapidly expanding in the 'regional' market first and thereafter over-expanding in the international lowcost market) :o

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Malaysia's AirAsia confirms 15 Airbus A330-300 aircraft deal

AFP

Posted: 13 May 2007 2235 hrs

 

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysian long-haul budget carrier pioneer AirAsia is to acquire a total of 15 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, a top official confirmed on Sunday.

 

The company in April signed an order with Airbus, for up to 10 of the aircraft, with an option to buy five more.

 

"By end of June, we will firm the order for an additional five A330-300. Negotiations are going on now," AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes told AFP.

 

The aircraft are scheduled for delivery from the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

Fernandes also said that the budget carrier would make a decision on whether to buy a further 10 A330-300 aircraft by end of the year.

 

"Talks with Airbus are yet to commence," he said.

 

The airline will begin its first long-haul flights in September 2007 using three leased planes from the low-cost carrier terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

 

"Our maiden flights will be to China and Australia in September," Fernandes said.

 

Destinations for AirAsia long-haul will also include Japan, Korea, India, the Middle East and Europe.

 

The A330-300 announcement cements a growing relationship between AirAsia and the European aircraft manufacturer.

 

Fernandes, who launched regional budget carrier AirAsia more than five years ago, unveiled its long-haul plans in January.

 

In 2005-2006, the company bought 100 A320s to service its expanding short-haul operations in the region and in January signed contracts to buy 50 more of the aircraft, with an option for another 50. - AFP/de

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp.../275926/1/.html

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Cut-price airlines landing like flies

 

Scott Rochfort and Nadia Jamal

May 18, 2007

 

ASIA'S largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia, has issued the biggest challenge to Jetstar's international operations to date, announcing plans to gazump the Qantas offshoot by becoming the first budget carrier to operate between Australia and Malaysia.

 

AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes said yesterday his airline's new long-haul offshoot - AirAsiaX - planned to commence services on September 8, either to Adelaide or to Melbourne's Avalon Airport. This will be one day before Jetstar is due to commence flights from Sydney to AirAsia's base of Kuala Lumpur.

 

It is expected AirAsia would then offer passengers the opportunity to fly on to its short-haul destinations throughout Asia.

Mr Fernandes predicted his airline would offer MYR (ringgits) 800 ($285) return fares from Australia to Kuala Lumpur on a sustained basis, easily undercutting the $990 return fares offered on the Jetstar website yesterday.

 

But given the expense of landing and parking aircraft at Sydney, Mr Fernandes said it was unlikely AirAsiaX would fly to Australia's largest airport any time soon.

 

"I would want to go to Newcastle before Sydney," Mr Fernandes told the Herald.

 

Mr Fernandes said AirAsiaX's aim to offer cheaper fares would be aided by its plans to fly to airports (or terminals) with lower costs. Avalon's landing fees are negligible compared to Melbourne Tullamarine's and, unlike Jetstar, AirAsia will use the cheaper low-cost terminal in Kuala Lumpur.

AirAsia's plans come on top of Viva Macau's confirmation this week that it planned to become the first Asian low-cost carrier to fly to Sydney this July. Singapore's Tiger Airways, which plans to start domestic flights out of Melbourne this year, already has international flights into Perth and Darwin.

 

Avalon Airport boss Tim Anderson said he had talked to AirAsia. "We're considering all of the options at the moment," he said. "They are complex, but we do believe that we will be able to provide all the facilities and services necessary for international activity."

 

Jetstar declined to rule out using Avalon for international flights in future.

 

Meanwhile, the Australian and International Pilots Association launched a campaign to pressure the Qantas "to commit to maintaining a world class airline and ensuring that its low-cost operation - Jetstar - does not threaten the Qantas Group's international reputation".

 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/cutprice...8995366002.html

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Good news........but where to park these wide-body aircrafts on our LCCT terminal?

 

the current apron can hold A330..but im not sure the walking walkway can withstand the effect of the blast..which im sure the engineering consultant overlook during doing the design..:angry: ..there's still empty apron infront of KLAS..

 

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Two aircraft engine makers vie for billion-ringgit supply contract

 

By B.K. SIDHU Tuesday June 12, 2007

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and Rolls-Royce (RR) are the frontrunners for the billion-ringgit contract to supply engines to Fly Asian Xpress Sdn Bhd (FAX)'s fleet of 15 aircraft but engine maker General Electric Co is out of the race.

It is understood the deal could be worth US$1.5bil, including the engine and a long-term maintenance support plan, based on catalogue prices.

 

“We are about to make the engine selection and have shortlisted P&W and RR but GE has been removed (from the selection process). This would be the first (time that) we would not be working with GE.

 

“We have asked for the best offer from P&W and RR and these should reach us by Wednesday (tomorrow) for us to decide on the engine supplier by Friday. We should announce the winner at the forthcoming Paris Air Show,” FAX director Datuk Tony Fernandes told StarBiz.

 

Fernandes is also group chief executive of AirAsia Bhd, a sister company of FAX.

 

Datuk Tony Fernandes: »We should announce the winner at the forthcoming Paris Air Show«

GE is supplying the engines for the more than 100 aircraft that AirAsia would eventually have in its fleet. The Paris Air Show will be held in Le Bourget from June 18 to 24.

 

Asked why GE was not in the running, Fernandes said: “The other two offered us a better deal. It would be good to have our engine of choice and the two are also quite excited to work with us on the low-cost model.”

 

In April, FAX ordered 15 A330-300 from aircraft frame maker Airbus for US$2.63bil (excluding engine cost). It is also looking at ordering 10 more planes for its low-cost, long-haul service, slated to start later this year and to serve markets within a flying range of six to 13 hours.

 

AirAsia X is keen to serve cities in Australia, China, India, Europe and the Middle East.

 

Asked if an Australian city could be the first destination to be served by AirAsia X, Fernandes said: “We have yet to decide where to fly to first but have received requests from many airports that want us to fly into their cities.

 

“The requests are from countries in the Middle East, Scandinavia, parts of Europe, including Vienna, and India and China.

 

“Even the governments (officials) of these countries are asking us to fly into their cities. The response is nothing short of phenomenal and we are working out the details on our first stop. We are a point-to-point carrier and would not be working on a code-share arrangement.”

 

Since the first batch of 15 aircraft would be delivered only from September 2008 to 2011, FAX has leased one aircraft to begin service this year.

 

Fernandes said FAX was looking to buy seats to fit the leased aircraft and that a lot of work was being done to ensure the long-haul service took off on schedule.

 

He said FAX would stick to the AirAsia X brand for its long-haul service, instead of AirAsia Long Haul, and that the team at FAX was mulling over the need to have a separate logo from AirAsia.

 

It is by popular demand that we are changing the name back to AirAsia X,” he said.

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Two aircraft engine makers vie for billion-ringgit supply contract

 

FAX would stick to the AirAsia X brand for its long-haul service, instead of AirAsia Long Haul, and that the team at FAX was mulling over the need to have a separate logo from AirAsia.

 

It is by popular demand that we are changing the name back to AirAsia X,” he said.

 

Why are they going back and forth? first AirAsia X then AirAsia LongHaul, now back to AirAsia X.

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A huge model of the A330 used during the launch of Air Asia X was attached with RR engines. I think the most economical engine to run and maintained, as well as an attractive package deal that may include financing, spares etc., will be the one that will win.

Edited by Rozhan

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Airasia X selects Rolls-Royce Trent 700 package worth $1.3 billion to launch A330 long-haul start-up operation

19 June 2007

 

AirAsia X, the long-haul low cost start-up airline, has selected the Trent 700 to power its new fleet of 15 Airbus A330-300s. The deal, worth over $1 billion at list prices, also includes a TotalCare long term service agreement.

 

Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, said: “The Trent 700 is the best engine choice for us on a number of levels. It will give us the widest choice of routes and the greatest revenue-earning opportunities. For a low-cost operation such as ours, supporting the engine with TotalCare also gives us the ability to have a predictable cost base which is crucial for us to be competitive. We are pleased and proud to be working with Rolls-Royce as we launch our new, long-range services.”

 

Mark King, Chief Commercial Officer – Civil Large Engines at Rolls-Royce, added: "It’s incredibly exciting to be involved in this ambitious new airline from the very beginning. We’re confident that AirAsia X can emulate the success that has been demonstrated by its short-haul relative. I am convinced that the Trent 700, as the most environmentally friendly engine on the A330 and the market leader, will perform a key role in Air Asia X's growth plans.”

 

Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia X (operated by AirAsia subsidiary Fly Asia Express) is set to formally launch medium and long haul operations in September 2008.

 

The Trent 700 is the market leader on the A330 with a 49 per cent share of orders and 42 customers and operators. Of the A330s that have been ordered by airlines in Asia, 61 per cent have selected the Trent 700.

 

It is the most environmentally friendly engine on the A330, being the quietest and cleanest available for this aircraft, with the greatest margin to CAEP 4 legislation.

 

http://www.rolls-royce.com/media/showPR.jsp?PR_ID=40500

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Fly Asian Express orders 15 A330s for new long haul low cost operation

19 June 2007

Fly Asian Express (FAX) has signed a contract for the purchase of 15 A330-300s, increasing its initial commitment by five aircraft. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for 10 A330s in April 2007. The first new A330 will be delivered to FAX, the operating company for AirAsiaX, the world’s newest long haul, low cost airline during the third quarter of 2008.

 

The A330 is already the aircraft of choice for more than 60 customers and operators around the world and is the unquestioned leader in its class with a commanding market share and a continually expanding operator base. The A330 has excellent flexibility for a wide range of route structures, providing the operator with a very low operating cost per seat, as well as the widest and most comfortable cabin in its category. Its proven record of superior economics and passenger comfort provides the operator with a significant competitive advantage in the market today. The A330-300 has a range of up to 10,500km/5,650nm and has flown over five million operational hours.

 

"The firming up of the additional orders reaffirms our ambition to be the world's most profitable point-to- point long haul low cost carrier. The South East Asian market is constantly looking for cheaper alternatives for air travel. With this optimism in mind we will continue to look into increasing our fleet via leases or acquisition to support our growth,” said Datuk Tony Fernandes, Director Fly Asian Express.

 

“Having partnered with AirAsia so successfully, we look forward to extending the success of that partnership with FAX. We are delighted to see the innovative low-cost spirit of AirAsia extended to longer range routes operated by AirAsiaX and are confident that the A330’s unbeatable combination of low seat costs and high passenger appeal will ensure great success for this new airline,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers.

 

The A330 cabin is optimised for both flexibility and comfort. With a true wide-body fuselage, the A330 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit operators’ requirements.

 

The spaciousness of the A330 main deck is echoed in the lower deck since the large underfloor cargo capability allows airlines to carry more revenue-generating cargo consolidated on pallets and containers loaded side-by-side.

 

Airbus is an EADS company.

 

http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/press...asian_a330.html

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More Updates:

 

AirAsiaX plans September launch with jampacked A330s

Wednesday June 20, 2007

 

AirAsiaX, which committed to the A330-300 yesterday at the Paris Air Show, is preparing for a September launch and positioning itself as the planet's lowest-cost long-haul carrier.

 

It will begin taking delivery of its A330s during the 2008 third quarter in a 396-seat configuration--a record for the type :blink: . "We even looked if we could put seats in the belly," AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes joked. "We're very much of an LCC," he said. "I know people are skeptical about this product, but they were also skeptical when we launched AirAsia five years ago. Now we operate 55 aircraft and have 150 aircraft on order." He added that another order may be coming shortly.

 

AirAsiaX will launch with leased A330s (ATWOnline, April 2). The new aircraft will give the carrier unit costs of 1.9 cents, Fernandes told ATWOnline. "[Airbus CEO Louis] Gallois has gone out of his way to give us this product," he said, explaining that the new airline asked for higher seat density, an altered galley design and a new IFE product. Cabin configuration will include 28 premium seats in a 2-2-2 alignment. Economy seating will be nine across with a 31-in. pitch.

 

Future orders may include the A350 XWB, a program that Fernandes said he supports. "We are a firm believer in the A350 product," he stated, although he would not commit to an order. "We believe that the A330 has lots of legs left. It's a hard aircraft to beat on the sector length we will be flying. The A350 would allow us to fly direct, without the need for a technical stop."

 

AirAsiaX is considering three Middle East airports for technical stops on European flights, including Bahrain. "We are staying away from Etihad, Qatar [Airways] and Emirates," he laughed. He said the 787 is "a bit too small" and that if it opted for the A350 it would be in a 10-abreast configuration.

 

The new LCC currently is narrowing the list of initial destinations, which may include London Stansted or Manchester, Australia and two cities in China (ATWOnline, Jan 8). Fernandes said he also is considering destinations in Central and Eastern Europe such as Dusseldorf, Frankfurt Hahn, Cologne, Prague and Budapest. The lowest introductory fare for a return Kuala Lumpur-UK flight would be $20, he said. Average fare will be $300, excluding taxes.

 

by Cathy Buyck

 

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=9285

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Guest Levent

I just had a look at this route map published on the AirAsia Long Haul site.

 

Hmmm... maybe someone should teach them a bit of geography? Dublin, the Italian cities, Istanbul, lots of Chinese places, etc. etc. etc. are way off their real locations. Doesn't look very professional, if you ask me. And how serious is the plan to operate to both Johannesburg and Pretoria?

 

I just sent an email to AirAsia about this, although I don't expect they will ever reply...

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