Air Asia orders 100 new Airbus A320s
Broughton, UK, December 13, 2012
Asia’s largest low-cost carrier Air Asia has confirmed another 100 Airbus A320 order, taking the total number of its narrow bodied aircraft on order with Airbus to 475.
The order is part of AirAsia Group’s regional strategy to continue placing the airline ahead of competition regionally with its extensive growth through new routes, added frequencies and remain the most profitable low cost carrier in Asia, said a statement.
The order is worth about $9.4 billion at list prices.
The 100 Airbus A320s ordered consist of 36 A320s with the Current Engine Option (CEO) and 64 A320s with the New Engine Option (NEO) to accelerate its growth in its core markets Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia followed by its new markets Japan and the Philippines.
The order was announced during a visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to the Airbus wing manufacturing facility at Broughton in the UK, where Cameron witnessed the signing of documents by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group chief executive officer, AirAsia and Fabrice Brégier, president and CEO, Airbus.
The contract reaffirms AirAsia’s position as the largest A320 family customer in the world. Altogether, the carrier has now ordered 475 single aisle aircraft from Airbus, comprising 264 A320neo and 211 A320ceo. Over 100 aircraft have already been delivered to the airline and this additional purchase will see AirAsia’s aircraft deliveries continue until year 2021. – TradeArabia News Service