AirAsia, the world’s most-awarded low-cost airline, has been recognized with the prestigious Skytrax Best Low-Cost Airline award for an impressive 13 consecutive years. With a reputation for excellence and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences, AirAsia has become a household name in the aviation industry. As one of the world’s largest operators of Airbus planes, the fleet is a key factor in the success of AirAsia. Let’s take a closer look at the airline’s current fleet and what the future holds for its aircraft lineup.
In recent years, AirAsia has become known for its exclusive use of the Airbus A320 family, having completely converted from the Boeing 737-300. This shift in strategy has resulted in a large number of orders for Airbus and has made AirAsia one of the biggest customer of the European aircraft manufacturer.
Huge Airbus Orders
In June 2011, AirAsia made a landmark order for 200 Airbus A320neos at the Paris Air Show, one of the largest ever for commercial aircraft in a single order. Although worth an estimated $18 billion at list prices, AirAsia will have received a substantial discount for the order. The deal was due to be fulfilled in 2015, but delays in production meant that AirAsia had to wait until 2016 to receive its first A320neo.
Undeterred, AirAsia continued to invest in Airbus aircraft, placing an order for an additional 100 A320 jets in December 2012, split between 64 A320neos and 36 A320ceos. Four years later, AirAsia further expanded its fleet with an order for 100 A321neos at the Farnborough International Air Show in 2016, enabling the airline to fly these larger aircraft to airports with infrastructure constraints.
By this point, AirAsia had become one of Airbus’ largest customer for the A320 family, with a total number of orders standing at 592. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the aviation industry, forcing airlines to re-evaluate their fleet plans. In October 2021, AirAsia and Airbus came to a mutual agreement to rework their orders for the A320 family, extending deliveries to 2035 and making other undisclosed changes to purchase terms.
As of now, the airline has a total of 101 Airbus planes in service, with 70 being the Airbus A320ceo and 29 the Airbus A320neo. In addition, the airline has also added two Airbus A321neo to its fleet, with a whopping 362 more on order.
Airbus A320ceo:
The Airbus A320ceo (or current engine option) is one of the most popular narrow-body aircraft in the world, and AirAsia has a total of 70 of them in service. These planes have a range of up to 3,300 nautical miles and can carry up to 180 passengers. They are also known for their reliability, fuel efficiency, and versatility. AirAsia uses these aircraft on short- to medium-haul routes, connecting destinations across Southeast Asia, India, China, Japan, and Australia.
Airbus A320neo:
The Airbus A320neo (or new engine option) is the latest variant of the A320 family, offering significant improvements in fuel efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and increased passenger comfort. AirAsia currently has 29 of these aircraft in its fleet, with plans to add more in the coming years. These planes have a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles and can carry up to 186 passengers. AirAsia uses them on both domestic and international routes, including those with higher demand and longer distances.
Airbus A321neo:
In addition to the A320 family, AirAsia has also started incorporating more Airbus A321neo planes into its fleet. These aircraft have a longer range and can carry more passengers, making them ideal for expanding the airline’s network to new destinations. AirAsia currently has two A321neo planes in service, with 362 more on order. These aircraft can carry up to 236 passengers and have a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles, allowing AirAsia to explore new markets beyond its traditional network.
The Future of AirAsia’s Fleet
As AirAsia continues to grow and expand, the airline is also looking to add more planes to its fleet in the coming years. AirAsia is set to receive a total of 362 A321neo planes, with deliveries expected to start in 2024. The airline’s subsidiaries in the Philippines and Indonesia are expected to be prioritized to receive the new aircraft, as AirAsia looks to strengthen its presence in these key markets. With this massive order, AirAsia will be well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for air travel in the Asia-Pacific region.
Overall, AirAsia’s investment in the Airbus A320 family has proven to be a successful strategy, allowing the airline to improve its operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance passenger comfort. With the addition of the A321neo to its fleet, AirAsia is also poised to expand its network to new destinations, catering to the evolving needs of its customers. As the airline industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how AirAsia’s fleet strategy adapts to changing market conditions and customer demands.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
