AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur Int'l) is planning to acquire an unspecified number of HGW (High Gross Weight) A330-300s to be used in resuming services to Europe next year. The A330-300 HGW is seven tonnes heavier than the standard version, which weighs in at 233 tonnes, and features a strengthened wing and additional fuel capacity giving the aircraft a range of 11,300 kilometres.
Acting chief executive officer (CEO) of the AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur Int'l) longhaul subsidiary, Benyamin Ismail, told Malaysia's Star newspaper in an interview last week that his airline will meet Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) officials this week over the conversion of some of AirAsia X's twenty-three outstanding A330 firm orders into HGW variants. Deliveries are slated to begin before the middle of 2016, just in time for the launch of flights to London.
In a bid to bring forward its return to the United Kingdom, the LCC is exploring the possibility of leasing two aircraft from an undisclosed Middle Eastern carrier. However, should the deal go ahead, it would require a stop in the Middle East leading to some doubts about the proposal's viability.
AirAsia X used its fleet of A340-300s during its last foray into Europe which ended in 2012. Back then, the airline blamed high fuel prices, "exorbitant" taxes, and weak travel demand for its withdrawal.
ch-aviation
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário
Nota: só um membro deste blogue pode publicar um comentário.