Malaysia's AirAsia X buys 10 more A330 planes

[Naim 6]

Malaysia's AirAsia X buys 10 more Airbus planes: official

26/3/08

 

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysian long-haul budget airline pioneer AirAsia X said Tuesday it will buy 10 more Airbus A330-300 aircraft for 2.1 billion dollars, bringing its fleet to a total of 25 aircraft.

 

The carrier had previously signed an order with Airbus for 15 of the aircraft.

 

Azran Osman Rani, chief executive officer of AirAsia X, told AFP that a signing ceremony to confirm the purchase of the 10 additional A330s would be held on Thursday.

 

"The list price for the 10 new aircraft is 2.1 billion dollars. With this firm order, the total number of A330 aircraft in our fleet will be 25," he said.

 

On future fleet expansion plans, Azran said the airline was eyeing the "next generation aircraft of Airbus 350-900 and the Boeing 787-9."

 

AirAsia X has began flying to Australia's Gold Coast and to China using a leased A330.

 

It has plans to launch flights to Britain in the fourth quarter of 2008 after acquiring additional aircraft and will eventually extend to Europe, Japan and the Middle East, with fares on average 50 percent lower than full-service carriers.

 

AirAsia X, an affiliate of AirAsia and Virgin Blue, was launched in January 2007. AirAsia and AirAsia X share common shareholders, including AirAsia founder and chief Tony Fernandes.

 

Richard Branson's Virgin Group has taken a 20 percent stake in the airline and the British billionaire has vowed to ensure that the project turns a profit.

 

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjSMx5...UBP2S-i4-tFgTRQ

[jani 0]

I guess if there wasn't so much delay with the 787's and the A350's, Tony wouldn't have ordered these busses.

 

Its just weird because how are they going to fly to London with the A330's?

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

I think this A333s will not be used to London. London will be operated using the intended 2 leased A340s. Looks like D7 has execute the 10 options it has from the initial purchases. D7 as we all know is going to launch some other routes like Amritsar, Newcastle and Avalon.

[Azmir I. 1]

I think this A333s will not be used to London. London will be operated using the intended 2 leased A340s. Looks like D7 has execute the 10 options it has from the initial purchases. D7 as we all know is going to launch some other routes like Amritsar, Newcastle and Avalon.

 

Unofficial rumor within D7,next Australian destination is reckon to be MEL (Tullamarine and not Avalon),after delivery of 3rd A333,then its PER.Amritsar will be towards the end of this year with a probability of going to Beijing instead of Tienjin.

 

The London flights will be done by A340s ,thats for sure its only a question of when.

[Naim 6]

March 27, 2008 16:15 PM

 

Airasia X: Plans To Fly To UK This Year Will Depend On Aircraft Availability

 

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Long haul budget carrier AirAsia X's plans to fly to UK this year will depend on the availability of aircraft, its chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani said.

 

"We are looking at the possibility of getting long range aircraft such as Airbus' A340 to enable us to go to UK. At the very least, we will need two aircraft," he said, adding that the carrier is open to the option of acquiring or leasing them.

 

AirAsia X has received approvals from the authorities for the UK flight and now just needs the aircraft, he said at a press conference following the signing of an agreement here today between AirAsia X and Airbus.

 

The airline is acquiring an additional 10 A330 aircraft to be delivered in the next five years. The deal is worth US$2 billion.

 

AirAsia X earlier this year announced its plans to fly to UK this year.

 

Azran said AirAsia X had been offered the A340 previously but it was not taken up as the price was too high.

 

AirAsia X has also ordered 15 wide-bodied A330s, two of which will be delivered this year and another two in 2009.

 

It now flies from Kuala Lumpur to Australia's Gold Coast and to Hangzhou in China using leased aircraft.

 

The airline also hopes to add 50 extra-wide body A350 or Boeing 787-10 jetliners to its fleet as it expands routes to China, Britain, India, South Korea, Japan and the Middle East over the next few years.

 

-- BERNAMA

 

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=323016