Story ID: GPairasiaA32012132012
AirAsia Orders 100 More A320s
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: 
Word Count: 208
AirAsia, the largest low-cost airline in Asia, has placed a new order with Airbus for 100 more A320-family narrowbodies, Airbus announced Thursday. The contract covers another 64 A320neos and 36 current-generation A320s, raising Air Asia’s single-aisle order count from Airbus to 475. Airbus has already sent the airline—its largest A320 customer—more than 100 of the airplanes, scattered around bases in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Tokyo.

An order ceremony took place during a visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to the Airbus wing manufacturing facility at Broughton, UK, where Cameron witnessed document signings by Air Asia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier.

“We have three gold mines in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia,” said Fernandes. “On the other hand, Philippines and Japan have enormous potential growth. With these added aircraft, it goes in-line with our strategy to further build our already extensive network through new routes and added frequencies and allow AirAsia to maintain its market leadership.”

AirAsia’s all-A320 fleet flies to some 70 destinations on a route network spanning 20 countries across Asia. Affiliate AirAsia X operates widebody A330-300s on longer services from Kuala Lumpur to Northern Asia and Australia.