AirAsia Berhad has signed a significant agreement with Airbus for the purchase of 50 A321XLRs on Saturday, July 5th. The signing took place in Paris between Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, under the observation of Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The total worth of this purchase is $12.25 billion, which also includes rights for an additional 20 A321XLRs expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2032.

This agreement represents a pivotal move for AirAsia, aiming to establish itself as the world’s first low-cost narrow-body network carrier, leveraging a multi-hub strategy.

Taking Asian Aviation Forward

Fernandes indicated that AirAsia has led the low-cost travel movement in Asia and is now positioned to elevate the sector further. He stated, “AirAsia is on a transformative journey to become the world’s first low-cost network carrier. This entails exponential growth, connecting regions beyond ASEAN, and democratizing air travel.”

Scherer expressed satisfaction with the agreement, noting it signifies AirAsia’s commitment to creating fleet efficiencies necessary for global expansion.

AirAsia intends to carry 150 million guests annually by 2030, capitalizing on the new aircraft to better align capacity with demand, enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability in a competitive landscape. The A321XLR is designed to reduce fuel consumption by 20% per seat, thereby improving emission metrics.

This landmark order positions AirAsia at the forefront of innovation in the aviation sector.