Nothing has been solidly confirmed yet. However, there have been hints that AirAsia Philippines may end up operating the A330neo and A321XLR. An article by Ch-Aviation did mention that AirAsia Philippines is looking to operate widebody jets to fly to Middle East routes. This vision and goal for the airline to operate such aircraft are not far from happening.
Some hints on widebody orders
Aside from the Ch-Aviation article, there have been other hints that AirAsia Philippines may operate widebody aircraft in the future. CEO Ricky Isla stated at an event in Kota Kinabalu that they are currently looking into more international destinations such as the Middle East. To effectively operate between the Philippines and select Middle Eastern countries, such routes will require widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A330neo.
Ricky Isla also mentioned plans to fly to Australia to serve more Filipinos.
Mr. Isla has mentioned the need for larger aircraft, but he has not mentioned any specific aircraft. Except for the A330neo, A321XLR, and A321neo, no other planes would be a good fit for AirAsia Philippines.
AirAsia Philippines currently operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A320-200s.
Why the NEOs are a huge possibility
AirAsia currently has 15 Airbus A330-900neos, 20 Airbus A321XLRs, and 366 Airbus A321neos on order. With AirAsia Philippines’ planned network expansion, including long-haul flights to the Middle East, there is no doubt that the A330-900neo will perfectly fit the bill. The first subsidiary to receive the A330neo is Thai AirAsia X.
The A330neos used by AirAsia are also configured with 377 seats. The right aircraft has 12 premium flatbed seats and 365 economy seats. This will enable AirAsia Philippines to provide more options for a more enjoyable travel experience for all of its passengers. If the Philippines receives the A330neo, the current seat configuration will almost certainly be retained.
The A321XLR is another aircraft to keep an eye on. In an interview, Tony Fernandes stated that the XLR is a game changer because it will allow airlines to operate narrowbody aircraft on longer routes. This will allow airlines to operate longer routes at a higher profit margin. The A321XLR will enable AirAsia Philippines to operate nonstop flights between Manila and Australia using narrowbody jets.
Currently, Philippine Airlines also uses its A321neo LR for flights between Manila and Sydney.
The shift to the A321neo
AirAsia has a pending order for 366 A321neos, with deliveries set to resume in 2023. These planes will be shared by all AirAsia subsidiaries, including the Philippines. Operating this new aircraft will be a watershed moment for Ricky Isla and the rest of AirAsia Philippines. This will enable the airline to increase capacity. AirAsia’s A320s can currently carry 180 passengers, while the A321neo has 236 all-economy seats. As a result, the disparity is enormous.
According to Ricky Isla, the A321neo will allow AirAsia Philippines to operate more efficiently because it uses 20% less fuel than its predecessors.
While nothing has been officially confirmed by AirAsia Philippines, it appears that the A330neo, A321XLR, and A321neo are all possibilities.
Of course, I am looking forward to the future and seeing AirAsia Philippines with its first widebody jet.
2023 will indeed be an exciting year for them.
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!
