Capital A Bhd is set to replace its fleet of narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft with the more fuel-efficient A321neo (new engine option), with aircraft delivery expected to resume in 2024.
As the carrier looks to re-grow its operations over the next several years, chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes stated that AirAsia, Capital A’s airline division, would eventually operate A321neos exclusively.
“Our first goal is to get all 205 aircraft flying. We have 110 (aircraft) flying now, and hopefully 160 by year end and probably all of them in the first quarter (of next year).
“So, next year is a period of getting back to where we were (before the Covid-19 pandemic), and then re-growing in 2024 with the A321neos, of which we have 362 units. It’s important to know that our deliveries, up to 2029, have been financed.” Fernandes said this in conjunction with the arrival of AirAsia Indonesia’s inaugural Jakarta-Silangit flight at the Silangit International Airport, here, on Sept 1. AirAsia Indonesia is the Indonesian airline unit of Capital A.
A321neo aircraft deliveries would resume in 2024, according to Fernandes, who said that there was a significant demand for new aircraft following the epidemic.
According to him, AirAsia will transport half as many passengers this year—approximately 40 million—as it did in 2019.
Capital A stated in October of last year that it had reached an amendment agreement with European aircraft maker Airbus S.A.S. to switch the remainder of its orders for A320 aircraft to the A321neo.
The low-cost airline operates 362 single-aisle aircraft, each with a capacity for 236 people.
The epidemic had already caused delivery to be stopped.
The listing proposal for AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd (AirAsia Aviation) and airasia Super App in New York, according to Fernandes, is developing.
“We’re planning to list AirAsia Aviation, which is private now, and the Super App,” he said, adding that further announcements would be made next year.
AirAsia aviation is the holding company for Capital A’s airline group, which also comprises AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia Thailand, and AirAsia Indonesia.
According to Fernandes, there would be two distinct listings of AirAsia Aviation in June, followed by airasia Super App in New York, according to an interview with the Financial Times.