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AirAsia has announced the firm order for 10 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft by its low-cost long-haul affiliate AirAsia X.

Published: 17 Jun 2009

AirAsia has announced the firm order for 10 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft by its low-cost long-haul affiliate AirAsia X.

According to the group, the move “is set to seal the airlines’ vision to be the world’s first long-haul and short-haul low cost airline”.

“By buying the Airbus A350, AirAsia and AirAsia X have now got its strategy fixed all the way to 2020. The vision of creating the world’s first long-haul and short-haul low cost airline is complete,” said AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes.

AirAsia X has selected the A350-900 variant for its fleet, which will be configured to seat 425 guests in a two-class layout.

Valued at a list price of US$ 2.2 billion, the deal comes with an option of another five A350 aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled between 2016 and 2018, which will further complement AirAsia X’s fleet of A330s. The airline has ordered 25 A330s that are due to be delivered through 2015, of which 2 aircraft have delivered so far since October 2008.

Fernandes, who is also director and founder of AirAsia X, said, “Under the current great uncertainties in the global economy where legacy airlines are cutting routes and grounding staff and aircraft, AirAsia and AirAsia X is determined to fulfil and realize our potential. The economic downturn presents AirAsia as Asia’s largest low cost carrier, an unprecedented opportunity to gain market share with our low-fare, high-quality business model.”

The purchase indicates AirAsia X’s ambition to fly further afield and to serve more destinations than it currently serves that include London (UK), Melbourne, Perth and Gold Coast (Australia) and Tianjin and Hangzhou (China).

Read more: AirAsia X