Low-cost airline group AirAsia is considering buying Boeing 787s to expand the fleet of its long-haul unit AirAsia X, CEO Tony Fernandes said on Friday.
“AirAsia X will need more planes. We are currently looking at the (Airbus) 330 (and) 350 and (Boeing) 787 aircraft,” Fernandes told reporters on the sidelines of a business forum in Manila.
AirAsia Group, which has already ordered A330s and A350s, is solely affiliated with Airbus planes, but industry experts say the Boeing 787s could fit into its long-haul operations.
Fernandes said that after purchasing 100 units, the group was also all for purchasing more Airbus A321neo long-range aircraft. “We will definitely need more in the future,” he said.
AirAsia, which flies nearly 200 planes and is the most important operator of the best-selling Airbus A320 jet, has airlines in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Japan and plans to expand into China and Vietnam.
Last month, Fernandes said the group planned so as to add about 30 jets to its airline affiliates in Asia this 12 months on account of strong demand growth.
Source :Times of recent straits
