Manila Bulletin
September 25, 2012
By Kevin Lim
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – A plan to buy 100 Airbus aircraft will be submitted to the board of Asia’s largest budget carrier, AirAsia Bhd, in about two weeks, the airline’s CEO Tony Fernandes said in a deal that could be worth $9 billion. Reuters reported earlier this month that AirAsia was putting the final touches on the deal, ending a flirtation with Canada’s Bombardier. Fernandes said the order will involve a mix of aircraft and not just Airbus A320s.
‘‘I’ll be submitting it to the board in two weeks,’’ Fernandes told Singapore’s Foreign Correspondents Association.
AirAsia, with an operating fleet of more than 100 aircraft, has ordered a total of 375 Airbus jets as part of dramatic expansion plans that now include the acquisition of Indonesia’s Batavia Air. It has said it will accelerate deliveries as rising demand helps it offset high fuel costs.
Turning to India, which last week said it will allow foreign carriers to take stakes of up to 49 percent in Indian airlines, Fernandes said he had no immediate plans to enter the market because he thought the aviation fuel tax and airport charges were still too high.
Indian newspapers had speculated AirAsia could be the first overseas carrier to take advantage of the new rules.
Fernandes, who owns Formula One team Caterham, said he is in Singapore to interest Asian bankers in financing aviation deals that historically have been dominated by European lenders. The F1 race in Singapore had attracted financiers from around the region, he said.
“We’re trying to get Asian banks interested. I think by introducing Asian bankers to the aviation market, costs will reduce. Asian banks have much more liquidity than European banks,’’ he said.
He said another source of funding for the aviation industry could come from wealthy individuals who are searching for yield products and would be interested in putting money into aviation trusts that would buy aircraft and lease them to airlines.
‘‘Cost, cost, cost. That’s my focus over the next few months,’’ Fernandes had said in a Tweet earlier on Friday.
He added that the public listing of his long-haul budget carrier, AirAsiaX, was progressing and appeared imminent, although he would leave the final decision to management.
‘‘I reckon it will be in December,’’ he said, without indicating how much the IPO could be worth. Earlier reports this year said the IPO could be worth $250 million.
AirAsia reported last month a 3 percent year-on-year fall in second quarter net operating profit to 130.94 million ringgit ($42.62 million) due to higher user charges and rental commitments even as revenue rose 9 percent to 1.18 billion ringgit.
Showing posts with label AirAsia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AirAsia. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
AirAsia to boost record Airbus order to 300 new planes
Manila Bulletin
By LIAU Y-SING and RAJU GOPALAKRISHNAN
July 6, 2011, 9:20pm
KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Reuters) – AirAsia Bhd will buy an extra 100 Airbus A320neo jets, taking its record-breaking order to 300 planes, a source said, a deal which would make the Malaysia-based budget airline one of the world's largest carriers.
The two sides announced an $18.2 billion deal for 200 planes at the Paris Air show last month, shattering aviation records for the largest ever airline order. The additional order takes the list price of the contract to a staggering $27 billion.
The bumper order highlights Airbus' growing lead over Boeing and throws the spotlight on AirAsia's aggressive growth plans at a time when high oil prices and an uncertain global economy are clouding the outlook for travel demand.
Analysts expect the extended order to drive AirAsia's expansion as it competes with carriers such as India's IndiGo, Singapore's Tiger Airways and Australia's Jetstar .
''AirAsia had the first-mover advantage and it continues to stay ahead of the game by ordering fuel-efficient planes and keeping the size growing,'' said an aviation analyst with a Malaysian investment bank who declined to be identified due to company policy.
''But the key risk is if expansion plans do not succeed. The Malaysian base is fairly saturated so if the other markets do not grow or cannot take off because of protectionism or other factors, then they will find themselves having to manage a lot of aircraft,'' the analyst said.
Like the previous order, the additional 100 planes would also carry CFM International engines, the source with direct knowledge of the deal said, declining to be identified because the deal is not public yet.
The source said AirAsia would receive a discount for the entire order, but did not give further details.
The schedule for deliveries of the latest batch of the A320neo planes will be at the discretion of AirAsia, the source added, without giving a timeline.
The initial order of 200 planes will be delivered from 2016, as Air-Asia seeks to reap the benefits of being based near the two fastest-growing aviation markets in the world -- India and China.
The A320neo is a version of Airbus's best-selling 150-seat passenger jet offering fuel savings with new engines from 2015.
Asian budget airlines placed a record $42 billion in plane orders during the Paris Airshow, signalling their high expectations for travel in the world's fastest growing market and also triggering worries some may not survive.
By LIAU Y-SING and RAJU GOPALAKRISHNAN
July 6, 2011, 9:20pm
KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Reuters) – AirAsia Bhd will buy an extra 100 Airbus A320neo jets, taking its record-breaking order to 300 planes, a source said, a deal which would make the Malaysia-based budget airline one of the world's largest carriers.
The two sides announced an $18.2 billion deal for 200 planes at the Paris Air show last month, shattering aviation records for the largest ever airline order. The additional order takes the list price of the contract to a staggering $27 billion.
The bumper order highlights Airbus' growing lead over Boeing and throws the spotlight on AirAsia's aggressive growth plans at a time when high oil prices and an uncertain global economy are clouding the outlook for travel demand.
Analysts expect the extended order to drive AirAsia's expansion as it competes with carriers such as India's IndiGo, Singapore's Tiger Airways and Australia's Jetstar .
''AirAsia had the first-mover advantage and it continues to stay ahead of the game by ordering fuel-efficient planes and keeping the size growing,'' said an aviation analyst with a Malaysian investment bank who declined to be identified due to company policy.
''But the key risk is if expansion plans do not succeed. The Malaysian base is fairly saturated so if the other markets do not grow or cannot take off because of protectionism or other factors, then they will find themselves having to manage a lot of aircraft,'' the analyst said.
Like the previous order, the additional 100 planes would also carry CFM International engines, the source with direct knowledge of the deal said, declining to be identified because the deal is not public yet.
The source said AirAsia would receive a discount for the entire order, but did not give further details.
The schedule for deliveries of the latest batch of the A320neo planes will be at the discretion of AirAsia, the source added, without giving a timeline.
The initial order of 200 planes will be delivered from 2016, as Air-Asia seeks to reap the benefits of being based near the two fastest-growing aviation markets in the world -- India and China.
The A320neo is a version of Airbus's best-selling 150-seat passenger jet offering fuel savings with new engines from 2015.
Asian budget airlines placed a record $42 billion in plane orders during the Paris Airshow, signalling their high expectations for travel in the world's fastest growing market and also triggering worries some may not survive.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
AirAsia expanding fleet to 500
Manila Bulletin
June 22, 2011, 2:13am
SEPANG, Malaysia, June 21, 2011 (AFP) – AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes said he expects the airline to expand its fleet of jets from 93 to around 500 by 2020 to meet surging demand for air travel across the booming continent.
''It is really up to us how we take delivery but honestly 500 aircraft is very achievable,'' he told reporters after announcing a $200 million join-venture deal with Canadian firm CAE to run an airline training center.
Fernandes said AirAsia has placed an order of 175 A320 aircraft which will be fully delivered by 2015 but to meet its expansion plans in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam it would need another 200 aircraft.
''We could be taking three planes a month by then (from 2015) which is 36 planes a year ... over five years that is another 200-odd planes,'' he said.
AirAsia has a fleet of 93 aircraft serving about 160 routes in Asia and over 520 flights daily from hubs in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. It will take delivery of another seven this year.
Fernandes made the remark amid reports the airline, which is the continent's largest budget carrier by fleet size, could be set to conclude a deal with Airbus for up to 200 Airbus A320 jets at this week's Paris Air Show.
The aviation tycoon declined to confirm the reports but said he will make a further announcement at the Le Bourget aviation show in the French capital on Thursday.
Earlier Fernandes said the Asian Aviation Academy will train pilots, cabin crew, maintenance workers and ground personnel for AirAsia and other airlines in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.
Montreal-based CAE provides simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training for civil aviation industry and defense forces.
June 22, 2011, 2:13am
SEPANG, Malaysia, June 21, 2011 (AFP) – AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes said he expects the airline to expand its fleet of jets from 93 to around 500 by 2020 to meet surging demand for air travel across the booming continent.
''It is really up to us how we take delivery but honestly 500 aircraft is very achievable,'' he told reporters after announcing a $200 million join-venture deal with Canadian firm CAE to run an airline training center.
Fernandes said AirAsia has placed an order of 175 A320 aircraft which will be fully delivered by 2015 but to meet its expansion plans in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam it would need another 200 aircraft.
''We could be taking three planes a month by then (from 2015) which is 36 planes a year ... over five years that is another 200-odd planes,'' he said.
AirAsia has a fleet of 93 aircraft serving about 160 routes in Asia and over 520 flights daily from hubs in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. It will take delivery of another seven this year.
Fernandes made the remark amid reports the airline, which is the continent's largest budget carrier by fleet size, could be set to conclude a deal with Airbus for up to 200 Airbus A320 jets at this week's Paris Air Show.
The aviation tycoon declined to confirm the reports but said he will make a further announcement at the Le Bourget aviation show in the French capital on Thursday.
Earlier Fernandes said the Asian Aviation Academy will train pilots, cabin crew, maintenance workers and ground personnel for AirAsia and other airlines in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.
Montreal-based CAE provides simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training for civil aviation industry and defense forces.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
AirAsia X renews maintenance contract with Lufthansa Tecknik
April 27, 2011, 4:58pm
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines — AirAsia X, the world’s first successful long-haul, low-cost airline, has renewed its contract with the Manila-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company, Lufthansa Tecknik Philippines (LTP).
Anaz Ahmad Tajuddin, AirAsia X’s Head of Engineering said: “The expansion of the agreement between AirAsia X and Lufthansa Technik Philippines is our commitment towards providing continuous quality services to our passengers."
"The teamwork and partnership we receive from Lufthansa Technik Philippines have ensured proven reliability of our aircraft thus far. We look forward to further breed this partnership in ensuring we are the world’s best.”
The supplemental contract comes a year after the signing of the three-year base maintenance agreement between the two companies that covers base maintenance services to AirAsia X’s Airbus fleet of nine A330s and two A340s.
The contract covers C-checks to be done this year for AirAsia X’s Airbus fleet. During the first year of the agreement, LTP provided MRO services including C-checks, a heavy maintenance check, several cabin retrofit and aircraft painting.
“The expansion of our agreement with AirAsia X is a true manifestation of the success of our partnership with one of the world’s fastest growing airlines today. We intend to make this partnership evolve further by staying committed in delivering results in terms of quality, short and reliable turnaround times, and cost predictability,” said Dino Santos, LTP sales manager.
AirAsia X is the long-haul low fare affiliate of AirAsia, Asia’s leading and largest low-cost airline. It was introduced in January 2007 under the concept of providing long-haul flights at affordable rates.
AirAsia X’s network of destinations includes Australia, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan France, India, New Zealand, Tehran and the UK. (EHL)
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines — AirAsia X, the world’s first successful long-haul, low-cost airline, has renewed its contract with the Manila-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company, Lufthansa Tecknik Philippines (LTP).
Anaz Ahmad Tajuddin, AirAsia X’s Head of Engineering said: “The expansion of the agreement between AirAsia X and Lufthansa Technik Philippines is our commitment towards providing continuous quality services to our passengers."
"The teamwork and partnership we receive from Lufthansa Technik Philippines have ensured proven reliability of our aircraft thus far. We look forward to further breed this partnership in ensuring we are the world’s best.”
The supplemental contract comes a year after the signing of the three-year base maintenance agreement between the two companies that covers base maintenance services to AirAsia X’s Airbus fleet of nine A330s and two A340s.
The contract covers C-checks to be done this year for AirAsia X’s Airbus fleet. During the first year of the agreement, LTP provided MRO services including C-checks, a heavy maintenance check, several cabin retrofit and aircraft painting.
“The expansion of our agreement with AirAsia X is a true manifestation of the success of our partnership with one of the world’s fastest growing airlines today. We intend to make this partnership evolve further by staying committed in delivering results in terms of quality, short and reliable turnaround times, and cost predictability,” said Dino Santos, LTP sales manager.
AirAsia X is the long-haul low fare affiliate of AirAsia, Asia’s leading and largest low-cost airline. It was introduced in January 2007 under the concept of providing long-haul flights at affordable rates.
AirAsia X’s network of destinations includes Australia, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan France, India, New Zealand, Tehran and the UK. (EHL)
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