Budget AirAsia to buy 80 planes
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Budget AirAsia to buy 80 planes
ninemsn.com.au
Budget AirAsia to buy 80 planes
05:42 AEST Mon Jun 21 2004
Malaysian budget airline AirAsia plans to buy up to 80 aircraft, increasing its fleet more than fourfold as it spreads its wings across the region, the carrier's chief executive said in a news report.
The company would likely acquire the planes over the next four to eight years from either Airbus or Boeing, Tony Fernandes told the New Sunday Times newspaper.
AirAsia currently operates 17 Boeing 737-300 jets, but a bigger fleet will help the company reach its goal of becoming "a dominant low-fare airline in Asia," Fernandes was quoted as saying.
The mammoth order - likely to be among the largest to be placed in the region this year - highlights the rapid growth of no-frills air travel in Asia.
AirAsia spokeswoman Jeamie Lee confirmed the comments, adding that the airline hopes to sign a contract for new purchases by the end of this year.
Fernandes reportedly said AirAsia is now focused on developing its existing routes in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand - but will consider new destinations in the future when it has more planes.
"Right now, we're short of aircraft," he was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star newspaper. "We could do so much more if we had more aircraft, so we're busily looking for more."
AirAsia carried 1.8 million passengers last year. Fernandes has said he expects the figure to double to 4 million this year, and reach 6 million in 2005.
Fernandes stressed the Kuala Lumpur-based company's regional expansion would not be hampered by an unexplained delay in its efforts to win landing approvals from the government in neighbouring Singapore.
"I don't think we are wanted in Singapore," Fernandes was quoted as saying. "If Singapore doesn't want us there, that's fine. There are many other countries that want AirAsia, and they will benefit from AirAsia."
AirAsia now serves Johor Baru, the Malaysian city immediately north of the city-state, but has been unable to secure landing rights for Singapore's Changi Airport.
Singapore ministers have said they welcome the development of the low-cost air travel industry, and are also determined to preserve Changi's role as one of Southeast Asia's busiest airports.
One Singapore low-cost carrier, Valuair, started flights from Changi in May, and two more - one backed by flag-carrier Singapore Airlines and another by Australia's Qantas Airways - are set to start flying by year-end.
İAAP 2004
===========================================
Budget AirAsia to buy 80 planes
05:42 AEST Mon Jun 21 2004
Malaysian budget airline AirAsia plans to buy up to 80 aircraft, increasing its fleet more than fourfold as it spreads its wings across the region, the carrier's chief executive said in a news report.
The company would likely acquire the planes over the next four to eight years from either Airbus or Boeing, Tony Fernandes told the New Sunday Times newspaper.
AirAsia currently operates 17 Boeing 737-300 jets, but a bigger fleet will help the company reach its goal of becoming "a dominant low-fare airline in Asia," Fernandes was quoted as saying.
The mammoth order - likely to be among the largest to be placed in the region this year - highlights the rapid growth of no-frills air travel in Asia.
AirAsia spokeswoman Jeamie Lee confirmed the comments, adding that the airline hopes to sign a contract for new purchases by the end of this year.
Fernandes reportedly said AirAsia is now focused on developing its existing routes in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand - but will consider new destinations in the future when it has more planes.
"Right now, we're short of aircraft," he was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star newspaper. "We could do so much more if we had more aircraft, so we're busily looking for more."
AirAsia carried 1.8 million passengers last year. Fernandes has said he expects the figure to double to 4 million this year, and reach 6 million in 2005.
Fernandes stressed the Kuala Lumpur-based company's regional expansion would not be hampered by an unexplained delay in its efforts to win landing approvals from the government in neighbouring Singapore.
"I don't think we are wanted in Singapore," Fernandes was quoted as saying. "If Singapore doesn't want us there, that's fine. There are many other countries that want AirAsia, and they will benefit from AirAsia."
AirAsia now serves Johor Baru, the Malaysian city immediately north of the city-state, but has been unable to secure landing rights for Singapore's Changi Airport.
Singapore ministers have said they welcome the development of the low-cost air travel industry, and are also determined to preserve Changi's role as one of Southeast Asia's busiest airports.
One Singapore low-cost carrier, Valuair, started flights from Changi in May, and two more - one backed by flag-carrier Singapore Airlines and another by Australia's Qantas Airways - are set to start flying by year-end.
İAAP 2004
===========================================
Assuming that they take delivery of all 80 aircraft - and retain the existing fleet - 80 aircraft should mean about 800 new pilots.
5 crews an aeroplane is not unreasonable for aeroplanes that get heavily utilised like they do in LCC's
5 crews an aeroplane is not unreasonable for aeroplanes that get heavily utilised like they do in LCC's
