Thai AirAsia acquires Airbus A321neo aircraft

Thai AirAsia is set to revolutionise travel with a massive fleet expansion, aiming to secure 25 Airbus A321neo aircraft from an order placed by AirAsia Aviation Group for 100 of these state-of-the-art planes over the next five years.

Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya stated that with tourism and aviation rebounding, the airline is prioritising increasing capacity to meet demand and align with the government’s aviation hub policy.

Last month, Thai AirAsia welcomed two new Airbus A321neos, expecting another addition later this year. This will bring their fleet to a robust 60 aircraft.

The A321neo, boasting 236 seats, offers 50 more seats than the A320 series and is capable of operating flights between five to six hours. Its advanced design allows for a 15 to 20% reduction in operating costs per seat and a significant 25 to 30% cut in carbon emissions.

Santisuk highlighted that these new aircraft would primarily serve international routes with limited slots, such as those to India and major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Between 2025 and 2030, Thai AirAsia plans to add four to five new aircraft annually as part of the larger five-year plan.

Most new aircraft will be Airbus A321neos, with an option for the Airbus A321XLR, designed for longer-range flights to destinations like the Middle East or Australia.

Thai AirAsia aims to transport 21 to 22 million passengers by the end of this year. The relocation of Thai AirAsia X back to Don Mueang International Airport in October is expected to bolster operations further.

The AirAsia Group, which includes Thai AirAsia, AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Indonesia, AirAsia Philippines, and AirAsia Cambodia, aims to grow its fleet to over 300 aircraft within five years, targeting 100 million passengers annually. Two additional A321neos have also been delivered to AirAsia Malaysia.

AirAsia Aviation Group CEO Bo Lingam noted that with new aircraft, transit passengers are expected to rise from 18% to 25% by 2025.

In the first half of 2024, the group launched 20 new routes, serving over 130 destinations, with 31 million passengers and a 90% average load factor, reported Bangkok Post.