23 June 2011, Paris – AirAsia today placed a firm order for 200 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth US$18.5 billion at the Paris Air Show, making it the world’s largest Airbus airline customer in history. AirAsia has an order for 375 aircraft from Airbus to date, of which 89 A320s have been delivered. The 200 A320neo aircraft is expected to be delivered from 2016 through 2026.
With new engines and large wing tip devices called sharklets, the Airbus A320neo saves up to 15 percent of fuel and adds another 500 nautical miles to its range (approximately 950km). It has the ability to carry two tonnes more payload at a given range and is more environmentally friendly as the fuel savings translate into some 3,600 tonnes less carbon dioxide per aircraft per year. as well as engine noise reductions.
Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO and Tom Enders, President and CEO of Airbus signed the purchase agreement during a ceremony that was witnessed by Rafidah Aziz, Chairman of AirAsia X, Kamarudin Meranun, Deputy CEO of AirAsia Berhad and Mr. John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer – Customers, Airbus.
This new order will cater to AirAsia’s expansion plans in the Philippines, Vietnam and the other parts of Asia. AirAsia has the capacity of up to 500 aircraft and the new Airbus A320neo will bring customers to more destinations.
These A320 aircraft will be powered by CFM International’s LEAP engine that AirAsia ordered today at the Paris Air Show at the signing ceremony between Tony Fernandes and Kevin McAllister, Vice President of Sales, CFM International with Kamarudin Meranum from AirAsia Berhad and Jean Paul Ebanga, President of CFM International witnessing the signing ceremony.
CFM International is an equally owned 50/50 joint company formed in 1974 by Snecma (Safran group), France and GE of the United States to provide management of the CFM 56 turbofan-engine programme.
The LEAP engine is a new centreline advanced high by-pass turbofan engine specifically designed to power future replacements of current narrow-body aircraft. The foundation of the engine is heavily rooted in CFM and CFM parent companies’ experience, including advanced aerodynamics, environmental, and materials technology development programmes.
AirAsia’s Airbus A320 are currently being utilized on routes of up to 4 hours throughout its network of 130 routes and 63 destinations in South East Asia, China, India and Australia via Bali, Indonesia.
AirAsia is currently the world’s largest operator of the Airbus A320 aircraft with 175 aircraft order placed in December 2007. AirAsia’s A320 aircraft order with Airbus totals 375 aircraft with 89 A320s already delivered.
Other Airbus A320neo orders (MOU) signed by Airbus and other airlines include:
- 30 from ALAFCO
- 20 from LAN
- 150 from IndoGo
- 80 from Republic (Frontier Airlines)
- 33 from AviancaTaca
- 40 from JetBlue
- 50 from CIT
- 6 from TransAsia Airways
- 30 from Cebu Pacfic
- 50 from Air Lease Corporation
- 30 from SAS
- 60 from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
- 10 from Garuda Indonesia (Aircraft to be operated by low cost unit Citilink)
- 72 from GoAir
- 100 from ILFC
The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. The aircraft feature the latest technology available today, the widest and most comfortable cabin, and the highest degree of operational commonality. With 99.7 per cent reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has also the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft today.
The A320 Family has exceeded 7,000 firm orders, reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. Furthermore, to date over 4,600 have been delivered to over 330 customers and operators worldwide.
The A320neo will have over 95 percent airframe commonality with the existing models of the A320 Family making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload. Engines offered on the A320neo are CFM International’s LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G.
At the 49th Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Airbus won about US$72.2 billion worth of business for a total of 730 aircraft. This success sets a new record for any commercial aircraft manufacturer at any air show ever. The commitments comprise Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 312 aircraft worth US$28.2 billion and firm purchase orders for 418 aircraft worth around US$44.0 billion.
The A320neo Family was clearly the star of the week and proved irresistible to airlines and lessors alike, by winning an unprecedented 667 commitments worth some US$60.9 billion. Furthermore, this means that total A320neo Family backlog since its launch in December 2010 has now reached 1,029 units, making it by far the best selling airliner in the history of commercial aviation.
In addition to the A320neo Family’s success, the standard A320 Family also continues to be popular, having received 34 commitments worth US$2.8 billion at the show. Commitments were also received for 11 A330s worth US$2.4 billion, six A350s worth US$1.6 billion, and 12 A380s worth US$4.5 billion.
