AirAsia Berhad Signs USD 12.25 Billion Airbus Deal for 50 A321XLR Jets.

Economy Business

AirAsia Berhad, the full-service subsidiary of Malaysia’s Capital A Berhad, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus in Paris on July 7, 2025, for the purchase of 50 A321XLR long-range narrow-body aircraft.


      - The agreement, valued at USD 12.25 billion, includes conversion rights for an additional 20 jets, marking a strategic leap in its global expansion plans.

      - These next-generation A321XLR aircraft will deliver extended-range connectivity—up to 4,700 nautical miles—while offering up to 20% lower fuel burn per seat compared to current A321neo models. Deliveries are scheduled from 2028 to 2032, aligning with AirAsia’s ambitious goal to become the first low-cost narrow-body network carrier, carrying 150 million passengers annually by 2030.

      - This agreement comes as AirAsia nears completion of its financial restructuring and emerges from Malaysia’s PN17 financially distressed classification.

Main Point :-   (i) Airbus CEO Christian Scherer and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, in the presence of Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, signed the deal in Paris.

      (ii) The move reinforces AirAsia's global multi-hub strategy—centered around Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok—with new long-haul connections into Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.


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