AirAsia confirms 55 A330Neos order

AirAsia confirms 55 A330Neos order

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia X confirmed Monday its order of 55 long-haul A330Neo passenger planes from Airbus at a list price of $15 billion, in what is the biggest single order for the line of aircraft.

Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia, poses in front of an AirAsia Airbus A320 before boarding at the domestic airport in Manila in this May 23 file photo. (Reuters photo)

Since signing an agreement to purchase 50 of the new-generation A330s in July, AirAsia X has added five more planes to its order, the group said in a statement.

Airbus will begin delivering the fleet in 2018, AirAsia X said.

The Malaysian carrier is now Airbus's biggest customer for the A330 family of aircraft, having already ordered 91 of them to date.

"This latest deal with Airbus will enable AirAsia X to consolidate its growth rate in 2015-2017 before ramping up deliveries from 2018 onwards," said Tony Fernandes, co-founder and director of the company.

"The A330 has proven itself to be exactly the right aircraft for our business model, combining low operating costs, long-range flying capability and high levels of comfort."

The A330Neo is an updated version of Airbus's wide-body medium-haul jet with fuel-saving engines.

AirAsia X is the long-haul and low-cost affiliate of AirAsia, which was a failing carrier in 2001 when Fernandes acquired it.

The former record industry executive quickly turned the airline around with his no-frills, low-fare formula.

Since then, it has recorded spectacular success and aggressive growth at the expense of national flag carrier Malaysia Airlines.

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