AirAsia Philippines is gearing up to integrate Airbus A330 widebody jets into its fleet for domestic and regional routes. This significant step forward in the company’s growth was confirmed by none other than the CEO of the AirAsia Group, Mr. Tony Fernandes. In response to queries about whether the A330 will join the AirAsia Philippines fleet, Fernandes confirmed, “we definitely want to bring it into the Philippines.”
Merging AirAsia X and AirAsia: A Strategy for Enhanced Efficiency
During a media meeting at the AirAsia Philippines RedPoint Office, Fernandes further detailed the strategic plan to integrate AirAsia X and AirAsia more closely. The addition of the Airbus A330 to AirAsia Philippines’ roster will enable the airline to significantly boost its capacity without the need for additional gates and slots. This comes as a practical move, particularly considering the congestion issues at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Expanding Capacity to High Traffic Airports
The incorporation of the A330 will permit AirAsia Philippines to operate more efficiently to high traffic airports by further expanding its capacity. Key destinations include domestic hubs like Cebu and Davao, along with regional stops like Hong Kong, Seoul Incheon, and Narita. Not stopping there, the A330 will also enable AirAsia Philippines to extend its reach, offering services to the Middle East, a region teeming with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who require improved connectivity with the Philippines.
A330-300 or A330-900neo?
While the commitment to use the A330 is confirmed, which variant of the jet AirAsia Philippines will operate remains undecided. AirAsia X currently operates two types of A330s — the A330-300, known as “A330ceo” (Classic Engine Option), and the A330-900, or “A330neo” (New Engine Option). AirAsia X has 15 A330neos pending delivery, scheduled to arrive starting in 2026 post-AirAsia X’s restructuring.
Given this, AirAsia Philippines might operate the A330neo if they are extracted from storage and transferred from Thai AirAsia X. However, the more likely candidate remains the A330-300 or A330ceo, which are currently in operation.
Comfort Meets Capacity
AirAsia’s A330-300 boasts two-class configuration, featuring premium and economy classes. The premium class provides 12 premium flat-bed seats designed for long-haul flights, with a 60-inch seat pitch and a 20-inch width. The economy class offers seats with a 32-inch pitch and a 16.5-inch width.
The question now is whether AirAsia Philippines will maintain this configuration when it starts operating the widebody aircraft or if it will adopt a mono-class configuration similar to its low-cost competitor, Cebu Pacific. Interestingly, the A330neo of AirAsia X shares the same seat configuration as the A330ceo.
A New Chapter for AirAsia Philippines
The incorporation of the A330 into AirAsia Philippines’ fleet marks an exciting turning point for the airline. This strategic move aligns with the goal to augment capacity and serve more routes, as shared in a previous conversation with AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla. Fernandes also underscored the A321neo as a priority for the Philippines and Indonesia, enhancing connectivity to China and Japan while accommodating more passengers. The A321neo jets come configured with 236 all-economy seats, a substantial upgrade from the current 180 all-economy seats served by the A320-200.
This decisive move by AirAsia Philippines paints a picture of a dynamic, forward-thinking airline, ready to adapt and evolve in the challenging world of aviation.
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