KUALA LUMPUR - AirAsia X, the long-haul unit of the AirAsia Group, has finalised a firm order with Airbus for an additional 12 A330-900 and 30 A321XLR aircraft. The contract was signed by Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairman, AirAsia X Berhad and Guillaume Faury, Chief Executive Officer, Airbus in Kuala Lumpur August 30, in the presence of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of 36 A330-300s on services to points within the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. In addition, in August, the first A330neo joined the fleet of AirAsia’s Bangkok-based long haul affiliate, AirAsia X Thailand. The aircraft is the first of two leased A330neos joining the airline’s Thai affiliate by the end of the year.
“Today’s announcement is testament to our confidence and commitment to longer haul air travel. This is the future of our long-haul operations," Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairman of AirAsia X Berhad, said. "The A330neo’s revolutionary new features and modifications will move our long-haul service sectors up to a higher level and allow AirAsia X to look at expanding beyond the eight-hour flight radius, such as to Europe, for example.”
The A321XLR is the nextstep from the A321LR which responds to market needs for even more range and payload, creating more value for the airlines. From 2023, it will deliver an "Xtra Long Range" of up to 4,700 nm – 15% more than the A321LR and with 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous generation competitor aircraft.
