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AirAsia X Orders 10 Airbus A350-900 + 5 Option at Paris Air Show 2009

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By Siva Govindasamy

 

AirAsia X, the Malaysia-based long-haul low-cost airline, is likely to place an order for the Airbus A350 shortly as part of its expansion plans.

 

The carrier, an associate of Southeast Asian short-haul low-cost airline AirAsia, had been deliberating between the A350 and the Boeing 787. However, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes says that it has made a decision.

 

"We have pretty must settled on the A350 and an announcement is imminent," says Fernandes. "It is clearer in our mind that the A350 is a replacement for the [Airbus] A340s. It can last longer on the 4-8h mark that is AirAsia X's focus."

 

He did not say how many aircraft would be ordered, but AirAsia X has said before that it could buy up to 25 aircraft. A timeline for the delivery of the A350s has not been established.

 

AirAsia X will eventually have a fleet mix of Airbus A330s and A350s, says Fernandes, who added in an interview with Airline Business that this would help it to serve the the bulk of its growth markets that are within a 4-8h mark out of Kuala Lumpur. This includes destinations in Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, India and China.

 

AirAsia has a 16% stake in the long-haul operation. Aero Ventures, which Fernandes started with other prominent Malaysians and Air Canada's Robert Milton, owns 48% of the long-haul operation. The other investors are Richard Branson's Virgin Group [16%], Bahrain's Manara [10%] and Japan's Orix [10%].

 

"AirAsia X is a wonderful addition; it brings the brand to another level. Look, it is sexier flying to London and Melbourne than Bandung," says Fernandes.

 

"But without AirAsia's short-haul market and the connectivity to Southeast Asia it offers, there would be no AirAsia X. That is why it will be hard for anyone else to emulate it. Look at Oasis Hong Kong - what else did they offer apart from flights to London? Is it any surprise that they had to shut down?"

 

 

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/...s-imminent.html

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Which type -800 -900 -1000. I think AK should take the 787 as it would look stunning in AK colours :drinks:

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Which type -800 -900 -1000. I think AK should take the 787 as it would look stunning in AK colours :drinks:

For that we will have to wait for the official announcement - maybe at the Paris Air Show later this month.

 

B787 is a nice plane and it comes into market earlier too. But it will probably cost more. A further complication is the crew needed to operate the plane will need additional training and certification since the B787 is different from D7's current A330-340's - all that adds up to cost. I think it will probably cost less to intro the A350 as compared to the B787. Low cost carriers like to shy away from unnecessary costs.

Edited by flee

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Low cost carriers like to shy away from unnecessary costs.

I believe the principle of shying away from unnecessary costs is not exclusive to LCC's :)

Nor to the airline industry either

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Which type -800 -900 -1000. I think AK should take the 787 as it would look stunning in AK colours :drinks:

 

Airlines don't buy aircraft based on their looks.

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Airlines don't buy aircraft based on their looks.

How true, otherwise the mighty dugong would have an even less impressive order list than it already is :)

And let us not get started on the Shorts Skyvan either :rolleyes:

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Airlines don't buy aircraft based on their looks.

 

True but I can't help LOL. :rofl:

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The AirAsia group could easily become larger than MAS in terms of fleet with this order. 175 A320 for AirAsia (I know it's split between the Thai and Indo associates but it was AK that placed the order), 25 A330 and now 25 A350 for AirAsiaX.

 

I think AK already has more of the A320 stationed in Malaysia than MH with their B737. Now if this order does go through D7's long haul fleet would also be larger than MH in terms of number of frames.

 

Profitability, AirAsia possibly triumphs over MAS. AK reported profits going up 26% compared to Q1 last year.

 

Could it also be that AK might be the largest airline out of KLIA? I can't find the break down of figures from MAHB but the other day, I read in Forbes that "AirAsia accounted for 44 percent of passenger traffic at Malaysia's main airport during the quarter."

 

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/05/28/ap6474025.html

 

Tony Fernandes was previously quoted saying "it is my goal that we, AirAsia, become bigger than Singapore Airlines and carry more passengers.” In my opinion, it might come true, I think he's on track.

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believed that AA will swap some of its order for A330s to the newer A350s and not 25 A330s and 25 A350s. And AA in near future may have more planes than SIA (of course then more than MH for sure) but in terms of capacity it will still be short of SQ's bec AA main fleet size compromises the much smaller A320s and some perhaps 35 A330s/A350s - whilst SQ fleet compromises of heavy-weights like the 773ERs,and A380s and incl the A333s and future A350s n B787s.

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The A350 is actually the next generation A330/340. It has the range to do the KUL-STN route and beyond plus it carries the same number of pax as the current A330/340 planes that are in D7's fleet. So whichever variant is chosen will depend on the capacity that D7 desires. Note that D7 also carries cargo on the STN flights to help the flights make economic sense. As such, they might also have evaluated what cargo they can carry with the A350.

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Could it also be that AK might be the largest airline out of KLIA? I can't find the break down of figures from MAHB but the other day, I read in Forbes that "AirAsia accounted for 44 percent of passenger traffic at Malaysia's main airport during the quarter."

 

As of 2008, MH market share at KLIA accounted 38.4% while AK 21.1%. But if we talk about AirAsia Group (AK,FD,QZ,D7) it accounted 27.13%. MH still dominated KLIA. AK, FD, QZ and D7 is under different entity. That is why they don't mix-up the figure.

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If D7 order A350; politically MH choice of WB will be limited to 787? Or may be MH is to beat AK in announcing their WB order?

 

:drinks:

Edited by KK Lee

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If D7 order A350; politically MH choice of WB will be limited to 787? Or may be MH is to beat AK in announcing their WB order?

Or may be MH is again deferring their WB order, until such time that manufacturers A & B are in position to commit to A350 and B787 replacement models :p

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I hope that air asia goes for th e A350 XWB and not the A350, SQ did not want to take those aircraft when offered because there wa no difference to the current A330 as the A350 has the same fuselage as the A330. But not the A350XWB as its a new plane all together.,with wider cabin.

 

Some one please tell Tony. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Edited by jadivindra

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I believe the original A350 design has been abandoned and replaced with the new A350 XWB (what a mouthful imho !)

Makes very poor logic if two new programmes are being developed with same design goals and same designations :)

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If D7 order A350; politically MH choice of WB will be limited to 787? Or may be MH is to beat AK in announcing their WB order?

 

:drinks:

MH would be foolish to watch what D7 is doing and letting it affect its own decisions. For D7, it is quite an easy decision to go for the A350 as it currently only operates the A330/A340 family. The A350 will replace both types and for a LCC that is a big advantage in terms of fleet management. Note that AK is also settled on one aircraft type only, the A320.

 

MH's wide body decision is more complex as it has a variety of aircraft that needs replacement. That is why the MH management is taking their own sweet time to arrive at a decision.

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I hope that air asia goes for th e A350 XWB and not the A350, SQ did not want to take those aircraft when offered because there wa no difference to the current A330 as the A350 has the same fuselage as the A330. But not the A350XWB as its a new plane all together.,with wider cabin.

 

Some one please tell Tony. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

That is old news. The original 350 model that was launched soon after Boeing unveiled the 7E7 (now known as 787) has been scrapped and replaced by A350 XWB.

 

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It seems to be a cart race scenario where Air Aisa came from behind (with 2 737 200) then matched the equipment of MH and now is planning to zoom pass the MH bullock cart which is moving at a slow speed.

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It seems to be a cart race scenario where Air Aisa came from behind (with 2 737 200) then matched the equipment of MH and now is planning to zoom pass the MH bullock cart which is moving at a slow speed.

737-300.

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As of 2008, MH market share at KLIA accounted 38.4% while AK 21.1%. But if we talk about AirAsia Group (AK,FD,QZ,D7) it accounted 27.13%. MH still dominated KLIA. AK, FD, QZ and D7 is under different entity. That is why they don't mix-up the figure.

 

thanks for this..

 

That's still quite surprising, considering that they still have A LOT of planes on order. AK dominance of KLIA is only a matter of time I think.

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June 16, 2009 22:30 PM

Airasia Announces Purchase Of 10 A350 Aircraft By Airasia X

 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- AirAsia, the world's leading budget airline, tuesday announced a firm order for 10 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft by its low-cost long-haul affiliate AirAsia X.

 

The purchase is set to seal the group' vision to be the world's first long-haul and short-haul low-cost airline, AirAsia said in a statement from Paris.

 

AirAsia X has selected the A350-900 variant for its fleet, which will be configured to seat 425 guests in a two-class layout.

 

The announcement was made by AirAsia and Airbus at the Paris Air Show.

 

"Business is all about timing and long-term strategy. At AirAsia we have always planned for the long term," said AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

 

He said by buying the Airbus A350, AirAsia and AirAsia X have now got its strategy fixed all the way to 2020.

 

"The vision of creating the world's first long-haul and short-haul low-cost airline is complete and we are all very excited," he said.

 

Valued at a list price of US$2.2 billion, the deal comes with an option of another five A350 aircraft.

 

Deliveries are scheduled between 2016 and 2018, which will further complement AirAsia X's fleet of A330.

 

The airline has ordered 25 A330s that are due to be delivered through 2015, of which two aircraft have been delivered so far since October 2008.

 

AirAsia, on the other hand, is the largest customer of Airbus A320 aircraft with a firm order of 175 aircraft and the option for another 50 signed in 2005.

 

Sixty A320s have been delivered so far and the remaining will be delivered through to 2014.

 

The purchase indicates AirAsia X's ambition to fly further afield and to serve more destinations than it currently serves that include London in the United Kingdom, Melbourne, Perth and Gold Coast in Australia, and Tianjin and Hangzhou in China.

 

"Under the current great uncertainties in global economy where legacy airlines are cutting routes and grounding staff and aircraft, AirAsia and AirAsia X are determined to fulfil and realise our potentials," said Fernandes, who is also director and founder of AirAsia X.

 

"The economic downturn presents AirAsia as Asia's largest low-cost carrier, an unprecedented opportunity to gain market share with our low-fare, high-quality business model," he said.

 

"We selected the A350 XWB for the step-change it offers in terms of operating economics and its exceptional passenger appeal," said AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani.

 

"We believe the A350 aircraft will be an industry game-changer that will allow us to dramatically operate with unprecedented unit costs for long-haul flights to Europe and North America, opening up new tourism markets and exciting destinations," he said.

 

"With the A350 XWB in our fleet we will be able to set new standards in the low-cost long haul market, making it possible for more people to fly further in comfort at ever more affordable prices," he added.

 

http://bernama.com/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=418479

 

-- BERNAMA

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June 16, 2009 22:30 PM

Deliveries are scheduled between 2016 and 2018, which will further complement AirAsia X's fleet of A330.

 

Was expecting earlier delivery, also means MH still can buy 787 for earlier delivery than D7.

 

Anyway good for D7 and Airbus :good:

 

:drinks:

 

 

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AirAsia X has ordered 10 Airbus A350-900 aircraft and placed options on five more.

 

The Malaysian low-cost long-haul carrier disclosed the agreement at the Paris Air Show today.

 

First deliveries of the aircraft are due to take place in the first quarter of 2016.

 

AirAsia X had been weighing up the A350 against the Boeing 787 but earlier this month indicated it had settled on the Airbus twin-jet.

 

A350s are currently available only with the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine.

 

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/...o-15-a350s.html

 

 

A350-900_AIR_ASIA_X.jpg

 

AirAsia X, the long haul low cost affiliate of Malaysia's AirAsia Group, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 10 A350 XWB aircraft. The airline will use the aircraft on a network linking its Asian hub in Kuala Lumpur with destinations worldwide, especially in Europe and Australia. AirAsia X has selected the A350-900 variant for its fleet, which will be configured to seat more than 400 passengers in a two-class layout.

 

“Business is all about timing and long-term strategy," said Tony Fernandes, Director and Founder of AirAsia X. "At AirAsia we have always planned for the long-term. By buying the A350 XWB the strategy of AirAsia and AirAsia X is now fixed all the way to 2020. The vision of creating the world’s first long haul and short haul low-cost airline is complete and we are all very excited."

 

“We selected the A350 XWB for the step-change it offers in terms of operating economics and its exceptional passenger appeal," said Azran Osman Rani, Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia X. "With the A350 XWB in our fleet we will be able to set new standards in the low cost long haul market, making it possible for more people to fly further in comfort at ever more affordable prices."

 

“We are extremely pleased to add AirAsia X to the customer base of the A350 XWB," said Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders. “Offering a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn, the all-new A350 XWB will shape new levels of efficiency in the mid-size widebody category and will enable AirAsia X to benefit from the lowest possible operating costs per seat of any aircraft in its class."

 

The A350 XWB Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions.

 

The A350 has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental concerns.

 

Firm orders for the A350 XWB now stand at 493 from 31 customers worldwide.

 

Source: http://www.airbus.com/events/bourget2009/n...e-a350-xwb.html

Edited by flee

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