AirAsia is well-known for operating an all-Airbus fleet. However, many people were unaware that AirAsia began with a large fleet of Boeing 737 jets, with 36 of these planes in total. AirAsia operated Boeing737 aircraft from 1996 to 2010, when they were replaced by the Airbus A320.
In fact, I’m sure many of you were unaware that AirAsia previously operated Boeing 747s. This will be covered in a separate blog post. So, let’s start with the B737s.
The beginning of AirAsia as a low-cost airline
In 1996, AirAsia purchased its first Boeing 737-300, also known as the “737 Classic.” For your information, 737s were classified as “families.” The “737 Classic” series includes the 737-300, 737-400, and 737-500. The “Next Generation” series consists of the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900 models. The third and most recent series is the “737 MAX” series, which includes the 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9, and 737 MAX 10. Boeing, on the other hand, wants them to be known as the 737-7, 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10.
So, returning to the subject, AirAsia received its first 737 in 1996, just a few weeks before it began operations. However, due to financial difficulties, AirAsia was only able to accept one aircraft until 2001.
Tony Fernandes later purchased the troubled airline and embarked on a massive rebranding campaign as a low-cost carrier, which marked the beginning of AirAsia’s massive growth. AirAsia alone acquired ten 737-300s in 2003, with more aircraft joining the fleet.
As a result, from 1997 to 2010, AirAsia operated a large fleet of Boeing 737-300s, as well as a few leased Boeing 747s.
The switch to Airbus
In order to operate more efficiently with new planes, AirAsia decided to switch to an all-Airbus A320 fleet in 2006. They placed a firm order for 100 brand new A320s, which arrived quickly.
AirAsia began retiring its first 737 in 2003. Then, as more A320s were delivered, approximately 11 more 737s were retired from the fleet.
According to Simple Flying, the AirAsia Group retired four more jets, leaving only a handful of the type in service in 2009. In 2010, nine more 737-300s (from the airline’s Thailand and Indonesian operations) were returned to lessors, signaling the end of the fleet. The final plane, PK-AWQ, was retired in March 2012, bringing the plane’s nearly quarter-century history to an end.
AirAsia now operates an all-Airbus fleet that includes A320-200s, A320neos, A321neos, A330-300s, and A330-900neos. They have 362 Airbus A321neos on order, which will be distributed among all subsidiaries. Skytrax has also named them the “World’s Best Low Cost Airline” thirteen times in a row.
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