100 more A320 planes for AirAsia

Toulouse (France), Jan 10: AirAsia, the largest low cost carrier in southeast Asia, has placed a firm order for an additional 50 A320s with a further 50 A320s on option.

The contract was signed recently by AirAsia group's CEO Tony Fernandes and Airbus' COO for custormers John Leahy.

It brings AirAsia group's (Malaysia AirAsia, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia) total orders to 150 aircraft plus 50 on option.

Doing so, makes it one of Airbus' largest customers for the aircraft type.

AirAsia placed its original order for 60 A320s in March 2005, with a re-order for an additional 40 aircraft announced at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2006. The airline currently operates a fleet of 15 A320s on a rapidly expanding domestic and regional network.

The A320s are steadily replacing AirAsia's old generation Boeing 737 fleet and are destined to do the same at Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia in 2007 and 2008 respectively. AirAsia's Kuala Lumpur hub will be fully operated with A320s by July 2007.

''The additional order will allow us to further strengthen our route network in the region by developing our hubs in Bangkok and Jakarta, connecting more points and expanding into India, China and Indonesia. AirAsia will become the second largest A320 operator in the world by year 2012,'' said Mr Fernandes.

UNI