AirAsia X has placed firm orders for ten Airbus A350-900s, with options option for a further five A350 aircraft.
The new fleet, scheduled to be delivered between 2016 and 2018, will complement AirAsia X’s fleet of A330s. The move will also enable AirAsia X to realise its ambition of growing its existing route network which includes London, Melbourne, Perth and Gold Coast (Australia) and Tianjin and Hangzhou (China).
AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, commented, “Business is all about timing and long-term strategy. Placing this order today forms part of our long-term vision for AirAsia X. At a time when many airlines are cutting back routes and grounding staff and aircraft, the current economic downturn has presented AirAsia X with an unprecedented opportunity to gain market share with our low-fare, high quality business model.”
AirAsia X already has 25 A330s on order which are due to be delivered through to 2015. Two of the aircraft have been delivered so far since October 2008.
AirAsia X CEO, Azran Osman-Rani, added, “We have selected the A350 XWB because of its exceptional passenger appeal and its ability to enable us to operate with unparalleled unit costs on long-haul routes.”
The airline has chosen Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines for the A350s. In addition, the airline has ordered Trent 700EP (Enhanced Performance) engines for 10 of the A330s on order. All engines ordered will include TotalCare long-term service agreements. This order brings the total number of Trent 700EP-powered A330s ordered by AirAsia X to 25.
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This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
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