Air Asia X has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for 50 A330neo. The deal, valued at US$13.8 billion at list prices, also includes purchase rights for an additional 50 A330neo aircraft.
Constituting the first Asian airline commitment to the newly launched A330neo, deliveries to Air Asia X are scheduled from 2018 throughout 2024.
“As we grow our network by building hubs across the region, it is important for us to continue to innovate on all fronts including the latest and most efficient aircraft so we can provide a hassle free travel experience as we connect our long haul network and that of the Air Asia Group,” said Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Air Asia X chairman.
History in the making
As reported previously by Business Traveller Asia-Pacific (see here), the launch of the A330neo represents an important and lucrative development for Asia, due to the widespread deployment of widebody aircraft by Asian carriers on short-to-medium haul regional routes.
The A330neo comes in two variants – the A330-800neo and A330-900neo. Both will feature the latest generation of jet engine, the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000, along with aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features.
The Air Asia Group is one of Airbus’ largest airline customers in the world, with 536 aircraft orders, excluding those signed for at the aforementioned MOU event. This figure includes existing orders from Air Asia X for 61 widebody aircraft from Airbus.
For more information, visit airasia.com
Clement Huang
