SEPANG, 23 July 2018: AirAsia’s long haul affiliate, AirAsia X, has placed an order with Airbus for an additional 34 A330neo wide-body aircraft.
The order was announced at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK by AirAsia co-founder and AirAsia X group chief executive officer, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun.
The latest agreement reaffirms AirAsia X’s position as the largest airline customer for the A330neo, with the aircraft ordered by the airline increasing to 100. All the A330neo aircraft ordered by AirAsia X are the larger A330-900 model.
Offering sufficient range for nonstop services to Europe, including from Kuala Lumpur to London, the A330neo will allow AirAsia X to expand its long haul model with even lower operating costs and competitive fares.
AirAsia X will be the first airline in Asia to operate the A330neo, with deliveries scheduled to start in Q4 2019. The A330neo will be operated by AirAsia X out of its bases in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
AirAsia Co-Founder and AirAsia X co-group chief executive officer, Tony Fernandes added: “Our decision not only to reconfirm our existing order for 66 A330neo, but to add 34 more, follows what is probably one of the most thorough aircraft evaluations the industry has ever seen.”
The A330neo is currently nearing completion of its flight test programme with certification expected in the coming weeks followed by entry into commercial service this September.
* 2018 list prices: A330-900 USD296.4 million
