India to review the AirAsia-Tata joint venture proposal on March 6
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) and the Tata Group (Mumbai) have announced a new joint venture proposal. If approved by the Indian government the new JV would bring a new low-fare airline to India under the AirAsia brand based in Chennai.
According to this report by One India News the Indian Finance Ministry is due to take up the proposal before the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on March 6.
AirAsia has applied to control 49 percent in this new joint venture with Tata Sons Ltd and Arun Bhatia’s Telestra Tradeplace Pvt Ltd. If approved, this will be the return of Tata to the aviation business. State-owned Air India grew out of Tata Airlines, which began operations in 1932. Ironically Air India (Mumbai) and other Indian carriers are likely to oppose the entry of AirAsia.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Guillaume Besnard. AirAsia’s Airbus A320-216 9M-AFQ (msn 3018) in the special ZOOM! color scheme arrives at Bangkok.
AirAsia (Malaysia): 
AirAsia becomes the first operator of Airbus’ Sharklet equipped A320
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) yesterday (December 21) received its first Airbus A320-200 with the new Sharklets winglet. The pictured A320-216 F-WWIC (msn 5428) became 9M-AQQ on the handover. 9M-AQQ is also painted in the new 2012 livery for AirAsia. It becomes the first A320 with Sharklets to enter revenue service. Airbus issued the following statement:
Airbus has delivered the first A320 equipped with Sharklets to AirAsia, which becomes the first operator of the new fuel-saving large wing tip devices. Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and are standard on all members of the A320neo Family.
Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. These newly designed wing-tip devices reduce fuel burn and emissions by improving the aerodynamics of the aircraft significantly. Cutting airlines’ fuel bills by around four percent, Sharklets will offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.
“We are extremely proud to be the first airline in the world to take delivery of an A320 fitted with Airbus’ new, fuel saving Sharklets,” said Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia . “AirAsia has a long-standing, special relationship with Airbus and as we grow our network with our all A320 fleet, these new wing tip devices will contribute to fulfilling our goal of being the most efficient, innovative low cost airline in the world.”
“As our biggest A320 Family airline customer, it’s very fitting that AirAsia is the first carrier to benefit from the four percent fuel saving our new Sharklets deliver,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “AirAsia’s vision is to make is possible for everyone to fly and now with their Sharklet-equipped A320s they can assure their passengers that they are also travelling on board the world’s most environmentally friendly single-aisle aircraft.”
Due to the very strong customer demand for Sharklets, all Airbus’ single-aisle final assembly lines (FALs) will be engaged in building A320 Family aircraft with Sharklets. These FALs are located in Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany) and Tianjin (China) and will soon be followed by an additional A320 FAL in Mobile (Alabama, USA).
AirAsia, the largest low cost airline in Asia is also Airbus’ largest A320 Family airline customer. The carrier recently placed a new order with Airbus on the 13th December 2012 for 100 more A320 Family aircraft including 36 A320ceo aircraft with Sharklets. Altogether, AirAsia has ordered 475 single aisle aircraft from Airbus, comprising 264 A320neo and 211 A320ceo. Over 100 aircraft have already been delivered to the airline and are flying out of its bases in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Tokyo.
Copyright Photos: Airbus.
AirAsia: 
AirAsia orders 100 additional Airbus A320 Family aircraft
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) has placed a new order with Airbus for 100 additional A320 Family aircraft. The contract covers an additional 64 A320neo and 36 A320ceo aircraft for operation across the carrier’s network.
The order was announced during a visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to the Airbus wing manufacturing facility at Broughton in the UK, where Mr Cameron witnessed the signing of documents by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia and Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO, Airbus.
The contract reaffirms AirAsia’s position as the largest A320 Family airline customer in the world. Altogether, the carrier has now ordered 475 single aisle aircraft from Airbus, comprising 264 A320neo and 211 A320ceo. Over 100 aircraft have already been delivered to the airline and are flying out of its bases in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila and Tokyo.
Top Copyright Photo: Eurospot. The first new Airbus A320 for AirAsia with the new Sharklet winglets is this Airbus A320-216 with the temporary registration of F-WWIC (msn 5428) at Toulouse. The new airliner, which also sports the new 2012 livery, will be delivered as 9M-AQQ.
AirAsia (Malaysia):
Bottom Image: Airbus.
AirAsia drops all plans to acquire Batavia Air
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) has dropped all plans to acquire Batavia Air (Jakarta) because it creates too many risks for the fast-growing low-fare airline according to this report by Reuters. AirAsia had announced its intention to acquire Batavia Air for $80 million in July.
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati. Batavia Air is now gradually adding Airbus A320s (compatible with AirAsia) to replace its aging fleet of Boeing 737-300/400/500s by 2014. The pictured A320-233 PK-YUE (msn 461) arrives at Singapore.
AirAsia (Malaysia): 
Batavia Air: 
AirAsia to become the first operator of the Airbus A320 with “Sharlets” wingtips
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) and Airbus have announced that the airline will become the first operator of the A320 with “Sharklets” when they take delivery of the first A320 equipped with these fuel-saving wing-tip devices at the end of this year. The aircraft exhibited on static and flying display at the ILA Berlin Air Show is the flight test aircraft for CFM engines and will also be delivered to AirAsia in 2013.
AirAsia is also expected to place a new, additional order for more A320s.
Copyright Photo: Airbus.
AirAsia:
Bombardier is in talks with AirAsia about a possible order
Bombardier (Toronto) is reportedly in talks with AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) about a high density (160 seat) version of its new CSeries airliner according to this report by Reuters.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. AirAsia has built its expanding fleet around the Airbus A320.
AirAsia (Malaysia): 
AirAsia wins Japanese approval for AirAsia Japan
AirAsia (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AQH (msn 4969) (100th Awesome Plane) BKK (K.C. Sim), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) has announced it has acquired the necessary approvals from Japanese government in order to begin low-fare flights in Japan.
AirAsia and ANA (Tokyo) announced last year they had formed a new joint venture to establish a low-fare airline based in Tokyo (Narita).
AirAsia (Japan) is now expected to commence operations in August.
Read the report from the Straits Times: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: K.C. Sim. The Year of the Dragon. Please click on the photo for information on this unique logojet.
AirAsia (Malaysia) Slide Show: CLICK HERE
AirAsia faces possible legal action in Australia, will launch a new logojet in Thailand
Airbus A320-200 Thai AirAsia F-WWIZ – MSN 4980 will be HS-ABW, originally uploaded by Luccio.errera.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) is facing possible legal action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for allegedly failing to disclose the full price of fares for flights from Australia to internation destinations according to this report by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Laurent Errera. Thai AirAsia will soon take delivery of this new “World’s Best Low Cost Airline 2009 2010 2011″ logojet. The special Airbus A320-216 with the temporary marks of F-WWIZ will become HS-ABW (msn 4980) on delivery.
AirAsia celebrates the 100th Airbus A320 with a special “Year of the Dragon” color scheme
AirAsia (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AQH (msn 4969) (100th Awesome Plane) BKK (K.C. Sim), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) on December 20, 2011 received a brand new Airbus A320-216 registered as 9M-AQH (msn 4969). The A320 has been painted in this special “100th Awesome Plane” color scheme. The unique livery marks the delivery of the 100th Airbus A320 to the AirAsia Group and with the Lunar New Year around the corner – and this is the Year of the Dragon – it is aptly decorated with a swirling dragon.
9M-AQH is pictured on final approach at Bangkok on January 15, 2012.
Copyright Photo: K.C. Sim.
AirAsia (Malaysia) Slide Show: CLICK HERE
AirAsia is considering another order for 25-30 Airbus A320s
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AHB (msn 3232) SIN (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) is considering another order for 25 to 30 additional Airbus A320s according to CEO Tony Fernandes and this article in the Business Times.
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional information.
AirAsia (Malaysia) Slide Show: CLICK HERE
AirAsia’s domestic routes in Malaysia:
AirAsia drops all plans for a subsidiary in Vietnam
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AHE (msn 3327) DPS (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) has dropped all plans for a subsidiary in Vietnam.
AirAsia Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: MIchael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional information.
AirAsia to launch the Kuala Lumpur-Da Nang route on December 16
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AFK (msn 2885) (WOW) SIN (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) has announced it will launch the Kuala Lumpur-Da Nang, Vietnam route on December 16.
AirAsia Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional information.
AirAsia reports second quarter net profit of $48 million
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AFQ (msn 3018) (ZOOM!) KUL (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) reported a $48 million net profit in the second quarter.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for details on this logojet.
Visit our photo library (rate the photos): CLICK HERE
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines in a new share swap
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AFW (msn 3403) (AT&T Williams) KUL (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) and Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur), once fierce competitors, can moving closer and preparing to become shareholders in each company.
According to this published report by the China Post, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, which owns about 70 percent of Malaysia Airlines, would get a stake in AirAsia, while Tune Air SDN BHD, which owns 26 percent of AirAsia, would get a 20 percent share of Malaysia Airlines. Tune Air is partly controlled by AirAsia’s CEO Tony Fernandes and another partner.
The intent of this proposed deal is to save financially-challenged Malaysia Airlines.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Malaysia Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional details.
AirAsia Japan is born
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AFQ (msn 3018) (ZOOM!) KUL (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
ANA Group (Tokyo) and AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) today (July 21) announced that they are teaming up to form AirAsia Japan, a new low-cost carrier.
AirAsia Japan will be the first low-cost carrier to be based at Narita International Airport. Operating under the AirAsia brand, the new low-fare airline will serve both domestic and international destinations when commencing operations in August 2012, subject to obtaining the relevant approvals.
According to the two airlines, the aviation market in Japan is undergoing rapid transformation with developments including the expansion of Open Skies agreements and increased domestic competition from road and rail-based travel. In addition, Narita airport, a major international hub serving Tokyo, is seeking to increase capacity with the introduction of a new terminal and is expected to attract many low-cost carriers and foreign airlines.
ANA has been seeking opportunities to launch a new low-cost business based at Narita and, after analysis, has concluded that partnering with an existing low-cost carrier is the most efficient and strategically advantageous option.
Having already established an unmatched network, especially within the ASEAN region, AirAsia has been seeking a business partner with strong Japanese market influence to further expand its scope, as well as contribute to strengthening bilateral ties between ASEAN and Japan.
The formation of AirAsia Japan leverages AirAsia’s successful business model and brings together the complementary strengths of the two companies, generating new demand with the aim of making affordable and quality travel available to all.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on this photo for the full story of this special logojet.
ANA and AirAsia discuss creating a new low-cost joint venture at Tokyo Narita
ANA-Air Nippon Boeing 737-781 WL JA09AN (msn 33878) (Kung Fu Panda 2) NRT (Nobuhiro Horimoto), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
ANA-All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) and AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) have started negotiations to establish a new budget airline based at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, according to industry sources and this report by the Daily Yomiuri Online. Operations for the unnamed carrier could start in 2012.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Nobuhiro Horimoto. Please click on the photo for information on this new Air Nippon “Kung Fu Panda 2″ logojet.
AirAsia may order another 100 Airbus A320neo aircraft
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AFW (msn 3403) (AT&T Williams) KUL (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur) is striving to become one of the largest airlines in the world.
According to this report by Reuters, AirAsia is planning to order an extra 100 Airbus A320neo jets, potentially taking its record-breaking order to 300.
AirAsia announced an orderfor 200 A320neo aircraft at the Paris Air Show in June.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
AirAsia Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for information on this special logojet.
AirAsia orders 200 Airbus A320neo aircraft
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AHE (msn 3327) DPS (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) placed a firm order with Airbus for 200 A320neo aircraft. The contract, announced at the Paris Air Show today, is the largest order ever placed for the A320 Family and makes AirAsia the biggest airline customer for the Airbus single aisle product line worldwide. AirAsia announced that its A320neo aircraft will be powered by CFM International’s new LEAP-X engines.
Altogether, AirAsia has now placed firm orders for 375 A320 Family aircraft, with 89 already in service on the carrier’s fast-growing pan-Asian network. In addition, the carrier’s long haul affiliate AirAsia X is also an all-Airbus customer having placed orders for 38 widebody aircraft.
CFM International, the joint venture between GE Aviation and French engine manufacturer Snecma, capped off an already record week at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget with this announcement that carrier Air Asia will purchase 400 of CFM’s more energy-efficient LEAP engines for 200 of its new Airbus A320neo planes, in the largest single-firm aircraft order in aviation history.
To read more, check out the following link: http://www.gereports.com/leaping-the-competition-at-paris-air-show-27-billion-in-engine-deals/
Boeing, the market has spoken and you are losing customers.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional information.
AirAsia’s first quarter net profit declines 23% to $56 million
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-214 9M-AFA (msn 2612) TLS, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.AirAsia Bhd’s (AirAsia Group) (Kuala Lumpur) net profit declined 23% to $56 million for the first quarter ending on March 31.
AirAsia’s Short-Haul Routes from Kuala Lumpur:
Read the full report from Bloomberg: CLICK HERE
AirAsia produces a record $349 million profit in 2010
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-214 9M-AFA (msn 2612) TLS, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur) continues to make money, despite a challenging environment. The airline group produced a record $349 million profit in 2010.
Read the full report from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE
Interactive route map (routes from Kuala Lumpur): CLICK HERE
Is AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes getting ready to make a bid for Virgin Atlantic?
Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-443 G-VROY (msn 32340) LGW (Antony J. Best), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) has recently stated it has received several inquiries. One of them may be from Tony Fernandes of AirAsia as reported in this article. Singapore Airlines currently owns 49 percent of Virgin Atlantic.
Read the full story from Reuters:
Meanwhile Tony Fernandes has denied these reports that he is interested in Virgin Atlantic.
Read the full story from Reuters:
Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. Please click on the photo for additional aircraft details.
AirAsia is moving ahead with a joint venture in the Philippines
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AHE (msn 3327) DPS (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Limpur) is moving ahead with its planned new joint venture in the Philippines. AirAsia Philippines is expected to be launched in August 2011.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional information.
AirAsia reports third quarter net profit of $141 million
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AHE (msn 3327) DPS (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) reported a net profit of $141 million in the third quarter.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing.
AirAsia’s 2Q profit rises 43% to $63 million, sells 500,000 tickets in 24 hours
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) Airbus A320-216 9M-AHE (msn 3327) DPS (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) reported its second quarter net profit rose 43 percent to $63 million.
Read the full report in the WSJ:
In other news, the airline is claiming to have set a world record for the most tickets sold in 24 hours – 500,000.
Read the full report:
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. A fine ramp study of Airbus A320-216 9M-AHE (msn 3327) at Denpasar.
AirAsia and Jetstar Airways form the first LCC alliance
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) and Jetstar Airways (QANTAS) (Melbourne) have formed the first alliance between budget airlines. The cooperation will extend to joint purchases of aircraft.
News link:
Jetstar Airways and AirAsia to announce a strategic alliance on January 6
Jetstar Airways (subsidiary of QANTAS Airways) (Melbourne) and AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) are expected to announce a new strategic alliance on January 6. The two groups have been discussing how they can cooperate for the past year.
News link:
biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/31/business/5389706&sec=business
AirAsia defers delivery of eight Airbus A320s
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) has deferred the delivery of eight Airbus A320s.
News link:
biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/31/business/5015620&sec=business
AirAsia awards baby a free lifetime pass
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) has issued a free lifetime pass to a baby born on board a flight this week.
News link:
www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=79&art_id=nw20091023102016857C822080
AirAsia defers delivery of eight Airbus A320s
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) has confirmed it will defer the deliveries of eight new Airbus A320s from 2010 to 2014.
News link:
sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20090807/tbs-malaysia-airline-airasia-airbus-3f3520e.html
AirAsia defers delivery of eight Airbus A320s
AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) has deferred the delivery of at least eight new Airbus A320s due to infrastructure issues concerning a permanent low-cost terminal at Kuala Lumpur.
Full details from Aviation Week:
www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/
ASIA072409.xml&headline=AirAsia%20Defers%20At%20Least%20Eight%20A320s
