Malaysia: AirAsia expands Airbus A330neo order to 100 aircraft
Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia has sealed a deal to purchase an extra 34 A330neo passenger jets from Airbus which will expand the airline’s existing order to 100 long-haul wide-body aircraft, worth 30 billion USD.
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes (centre) speaks to reporters at a media event Sepang, Kuala Lumpur on July 19. (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia has sealed a deal to purchase an extra 34 A330neo passenger jets from Airbus which will expand the airline’s existing order to 100 long-haul wide-body aircraft, worth 30 billion USD.
This is AirAisa’s latest move towards expanding its services to European destinations.
The first delivery of the A330neos is scheduled to arrive towards the end of 2019, AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes told reporters at a media event on July 19. This will allow the carrier to take on longer non-stop routes to Europe, he added.
These will be used by its long-haul arm, AirAsia X, replacing its older first-generation A330s.
The A330neo plans will enable AirAsia to access routes to Brazil, Namibia, and anywhere it wants, the AirAsia official said.
With these new planes, the airline will be able to resume its service from Kuala Lumpur to London, which was dropped in 2012 due to low demand and high fuel prices.
AirAsia X Chief Executive Kamarudin Meranun said AirAsia X expects the new aircraft will allow the carrier to expand its low fares beyond the Asia Pacific to the rest of the world.
The agreement makes AirAsia now the biggest Asian customer of European aviation giant Airbus. -VNA
You should also see
InfographicCommemoration of Hung Kings - Gathering the spirit of patriotism
The Commemoration of the Hung Kings and the Hung Kings Temple Festival are among the most important festivals of the year for Vietnamese people. The worship of the Hung Kings is not only part of the cultural identity of the Vietnamese community but has also transcended national boundaries to become an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
See more
World
Indonesia’s Ruang volcano erupts, hundreds evacuated
At least 800 people in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province have been evacuated after the area’s Ruang volcano has spewed lava and ash clouds into the sky for days, Indonesia’s volcanology agency said on April 17.
World
Bangkok markets join food waste reduction drive
Nearly 200 fresh markets in Bangkok have joined a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) campaign to classify food scraps from other waste, which helps reduce carbon emissions by about 142.5 tonnes per day.
World
ASEAN-Korea Centre appoints new secretary-general
The ASEAN-Korea Centre has appointed former Ambassador of the Republic of Korean (RoK) to the Philippines Kim Jae-shin as its new Secretary-General, it announed on April 16.
World
No major changes to Singapore's new cabinet: Deputy PM Wong
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who will become the country's fourth prime minister, said on April 16 that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will take on the role of senior minister in the new cabinet, which is not likely to have major changes.
World
Philippines seizes 1.8 tonnes of meth in record drug bust
The Philippines police have seized 1.8 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, President Ferdinand Marcos said on April 16, describing the bust as a record drug seizure in the Southeast Asian country.
