We’re all familiar with AirAsia as a low-cost carrier with an all-Airbus fleet. However, many did not know that AirAsia started out not only as a Boeing operator, they also had jumbos in the fleet! Yes, there was a time when AirAsia flew the Boeing 747, and there was a reason for it.
AirAsia leased up to four 747s
AirAsia did not buy a small number of 747 jumbos; instead, they were leased for a specific reason. AirAsia required large planes for Haj pilgrimage flights from a variety of locations, including the United States and Europe. The 747s were leased specifically for this purpose.
The first Boeing 747 was added to the AirAsia fleet in December 1999. This was a leased Tower Air 747-200 with the registration N620FF that flew with AirAsia until the end of February 2001. From March to June 2000, it was joined by another Tower Air 747-200 with the registration N618FF.
AirAsia took in more Boeing 747 jumbos in 2001. Three 747-200s were leased from Air Atlantic Icelandic, and one from European Aircharter. These four 747s were once again used for pilgrimage flights.
The jumbos remained in service with AirAsia until 2003, when they were returned to their lessors.
AirAsia also transitioned from a Boeing to an all-Airbus operation in 2004. More information on AirAsia’s 737s can be found here.
AirAsia also operated the Airbus A340
The Boeing 747 was not the only four-engine aircraft in the former AirAsia fleet. The airline’s low-cost subsidiary AirAsia X operated the Airbus A340-300, two of them.
AirAsia wanted to introduce long-haul low-cost flights to European destinations. These planes, however, did not last long. After six years, AirAsia decided to discontinue its European routes. Both A340-300s were retired from the AirAsia fleet in 2015.
Today, AirAsia has been undergoing a lot of restructuring as it reinvents itself as a digital app offering more mobility and better travel experience. AirAsia X will soon be merged into AirAsia becoming AirAsia Aviation Group. As a result, AirAsia’s long-haul flights will most likely no longer be under the AirAsia X brand, but will instead be merged as one AirAsia brand.
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!
