AirAsia flies Airbus A330 on Manila – Kuala Lumpur flights

We are used to Airbus A320 services for AirAsia flights between Manila and Kuala Lumpur. Flight AK 584 operated by AirAsia Malaysia would usually rotate between their A320ceo and A320neo. However, it seems like I am seeing a big change. Just lately, AirAsia flight 584 from Kuala Lumpur to Manila had been utilizing an Airbus A330 for the route!

This Airbus A330-300 with registry 9M-VVA is now regularly being utilized on flights 584 and 585 since July 10. It seems like the same aircraft will be used in the succeeding days ahead.

AirAsia’s Airbus A330 carries 377 passengers. It is equipped with 12 premium flatbed seats and 365 economy class seats.

This aircraft is also used for flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, and Dhaka

Why is AirAsia now utilizing A330s?

There can be a variety of reasons but one is the increase in passenger traffic between Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur. First is the long weekend in Malaysia since the country celebrated Eid Al Adha. Flights to and from Malaysia were full, especially with the number of people going on vacation.

I was on board AK 584 on July 9 in which we utilized the usual Airbus A320 and it was full.

Due also to “revenge travel” and limited parking slots, I do feel it was more feasible for AirAsia to operate a widebody to increase capacity instead of adding an extra flight. Adding another A320 flight would mean additional gate rental costs and operating expenses. Hence, it must have been a more sound decision to operate a single A330 flight.

This is an AirAsia flight, and not an AirAsia X

If you will look closely at 9M-VVA, it does not wear the AirAsia X livery, instead, it carries the regular AirAsia livery. It also carries the AK code, meaning it is an AirAsia flight. AirAsia X uses D7. Also, 9M-VVA has been transferred to AirAsia Malaysia from AirAsia X.

Philippines to operate widebody aircraft

Noise is already all around that AirAsia Philippines is aiming to operate widebody aircraft to launch flights to the Middle East and Australia. While there has been no specific word on any aircraft type, the A330 is the only widebody aircraft that AirAsia Berhad operates.

Perhaps, are they already testing the waters for AirAsia Philippines to operate Airbus A330s soon? While it may be the goal of AirAsia Philippines to operate newer Airbus A330-900neos, this may still take time. AirAsia has confirmed that it will resume the delivery of new Airbus jets in 2023.

Will Philippines take the A330s?

Since AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla has mentioned that they are aiming to operate widebody jets to farther destinations, the possibility of operating A330s is not far. Here are some speculations of mine though.

The first possibility (and speculation), a few of the stored A330-300 of AirAsia X may be transferred to the Philippines. Based on history, the majority of AirAsia Philippines’ A320 planes are formerly AirAsia Malaysia planes. Just like 9M-VVA, there can be a possibility that a few of those stored AirAsia X A330-300s can be transferred to the Philippines subject to market and feasibility study. This includes the launch of longer routes utilizing widebody jets.

Another is for the Philippines to wait and receive a few of those A330-900neos which are set to be delivered beginning in 2023. However if AirAsia Philippines needs the aircraft sooner, then the A330-300s can serve as interim jets pending delivery of the A330-900neo.

Again, these are just all speculations. AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla had been vocal about operating bigger planes and to farther destinations. Of course, the goal of AirAsia Philippines is to expand its network to farther places to serve more Filipinos abroad.

Perhaps if AirAsia Philippines can show Tony Fernandes that operating A330s will deliver the numbers, then perhaps they can be next in line to receive not only those A330neos but also A321neos.

For now, we can just wish and keep our fingers crossed that AirAsia Philippines will soon become a widebody operator.