AirAsia to Introduce up to 70 Airbus A321XLR Aircraft for One-Stop Routes to Europe and America

Capital A (formerly AirAsia Group) subsidiary AirAsia X is set to introduce up to 70 Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

In Paris, witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes and Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer signed a memorandum of understanding.

The breakdown includes 50 firm orders and 20 options, amounting to approximately 12.25 billion USD at the catalog price. They are expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2032, with discussions for early deliveries also underway.

Based in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, routes to Europe and America will be established via the Middle East and North Asia. While maintaining point-to-point routes, a network carrier model based at both hubs will be adopted, covering five continents with single-aisle aircraft. North Asian hubs include Japan, Taiwan, and Macau, with an aim to serve Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Currently holding 255 aircraft, they plan to expand the fleet to over 500 within 10 years. The number of cities served will be increased from the current 143 to 175 within the next five years, targeting 150 million passengers annually. The long-term goal is to own nearly 1,000 aircraft and reach 200 million passengers annually.

The Airbus A330 aircraft are considered an oversupply for operations to smaller cities like Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Busan, and profitability will be enhanced through appropriate capacity. Until the Airbus A321XLR is introduced, Airbus A330 aircraft are expected to be utilized on European routes. Discussions are ongoing regarding the current order.

CEO Fernandes expressed a personal opinion of transitioning to an all-narrow-body fleet in the long term. The possibility of maintaining the premium flatbed offered on wide-body aircraft is also being reviewed. He mentioned that airfare from Southeast Asia to Europe and America could potentially decrease to about half on average in the future.

The introduction of regional aircraft is also under consideration, with negotiations ongoing with Airbus A220, Embraer E2, and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). During the presentation, the Airbus A220 was highlighted as a candidate.