Flying high: Fernandes orders more from Airbus
LANGKAWI – AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes went flying with the world famous Red Arrows aerobatic team this week – but only after buying a few more A320s for his impressive collection.
AirAsia has placed a firm order for an additional 25 A320s, taking total orders to 175 A320 aircraft which makes it the largest airline customer for this particular aircraft in the world.
The contract was signed at the Langkawi Airshow by Fernandes and John Leahy, COO-Customers of Airbus.
The first A320 aircraft was delivered to AirAsia in December 2005, with the airline currently operating 31 A320s on a rapidly expanding domestic and regional network.
AirAsia’s Kuala Lumpur hub is fully operated with A320s and the aircraft is expected to replace Thai AirAsia’s and Indonesia AirAsia’s old generation Boeing 737 fleets by 2008.
Fernandez said AirAsia’s reputation as an aviation innovator “has grown to the extent it is now a leader that sets the benchmark to others”.
Meanwhile, Jakarta-based Lion Air has been confirmed as the buyer of 22 of Boeing’s Next-Generation 737-900ER airplanes.
It brings Lion Air’s combined orders for the 737-900ER up to 122. Lion Air’s planes will be equipped with blended winglets, which improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by up to four percent, Boeing said.
As of November 30, eight customers have placed orders for 169 Next-Generation 737-900ERs.
Ian Jarrett
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