AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur International) has further adjusted its Airbus backlog ordering twelve A330-900s alongside thirty A321neo(XLR)s.
The AirAsia Group subsidiary said in a stock market disclosure that deliveries of its now 78-strong A330neo order backlog will begin in 2020 while the XLRs will start to arrive from 2023 onwards.
"The additional Aircraft are planned as part of the Company’s future fleet and hub expansion, as well as to replace aircraft in the existing fleet, given that a number of the Company's existing aircraft will reach twelve (12) years of age beginning 2020," it said. "These Aircraft will also replace leased aircraft which will be returned to the respective lessors within the next nine (9) years."
The longhaul LCC specialist said deliveries will be funded mainly by sale and leaseback arrangements and/or debt financing depending on market conditions.
AirAsia X operates twenty-four A330-300s at present while sister carrier Indonesia AirAsia X (IDX, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta) operates two and Thai AirAsia X (XJ, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) operates ten A330-300s and one A330-900.
