Malaysia Aviation Group Orders 20 More Airbus A330neo Widebodies
Malaysia Aviation Group, parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 20 additional A330-900 aircraft, doubling the airline’s future A330neo fleet to 40 aircraft. The announcement was made during the official visit to France of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Anwar Ibrahim.
Malaysia Airlines first selected the A330neo in 2022 under its widebody fleet renewal programme with a commitment for 20 aircraft. Four aircraft from the initial order have been delivered and are already operating on services from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne, Auckland and Bali, featuring an all-new premium cabin layout.
“The A330neo continues to deliver the right balance of operational efficiency, range, and cabin comfort to support our network and growth strategy. With its enhanced fuel efficiency and flexibility across both regional and long-haul routes, the aircraft is a strong fit for our evolving market needs. It also allows us to offer a product that aligns with our premium positioning – streamlined, modern, and designed around passenger comfort and expectations. This additional order reinforces our long-term vision of building a future-ready fleet that supports sustainable growth, delivers consistent value to our passengers, and strengthens our competitiveness in key markets.”
Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of MAG
“We are proud to further strengthen our relationship with Malaysia Aviation Group as it expands its A330neo fleet. This repeat order is a strong endorsement of the A330neo’s exceptional performance, fuel efficiency, versatility and passenger comfort, as well as a testament to the aircraft’s popularity among the world’s premium airlines.”
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business
The A330-900 is powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and is capable of flying 7,200 nm / 13,300 km non-stop. The aircraft features Airbus’s award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers passengers more individual space, enlarged overhead bins, a new lighting system and access to the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems.
The A330 Family has secured over 1,800 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide as of the end of May 2025. Like all in-production Airbus aircraft, the A330neo can operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel, with Airbus targeting 100% SAF capability by 2030.
AirAsia signs Memorandum of Understanding for 70 Airbus A321XLR aircraft
AirAsia Berhad has signed a landmark $12.25 billion agreement with Airbus for 50 A321XLRs with rights for 20 A321XLRs, marking a significant expansion of the Malaysian low-cost carrier’s global network and positioning it to become the world’s first low-cost narrow-body network carrier.
The deal, signed on 5 July 2025 in Paris and witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, includes firm orders for 50 A321XLRs with rights for an additional 20 aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2032.
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, formalised the agreement that will enable AirAsia to serve longer-range, underserved routes more efficiently, including destinations in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
“We pioneered low-cost travel in Asia – now, we are taking it to the next level. AirAsia is on a transformative journey to become the world’s first low-cost network carrier. This is about exponential growth, connecting geographies beyond Asean, and making flying even more democratic. We gave people in Asean the opportunity to explore Asia – now we want the world to see Asean, and Asean to see the world. The A321XLR and A321LR are the game-changers enabling this vision, and we are proud to lead the charge in making our world smaller. We can’t wait to paint the skies even wider in red.”
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor & Steward of AirAsia Group
“We are pleased to confirm this agreement, as AirAsia Group begins its next development chapter. Having resumed its growth trajectory, which we salute and support, the airline is creating solid fleet efficiencies, allowing global network expansion. The A321XLR unlocks new opportunities for AirAsia to launch non-stop flights linking primary and secondary cities all around the globe.”
Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus
The new aircraft will operate alongside AirAsia’s existing all-Airbus fleet of A320 Family and A330 aircraft, supporting the airline’s strategy to establish Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok as key aviation hubs while maintaining its low-cost model through improved route economics and enhanced aircraft utilization.
AirAsia Group has set an ambitious target to carry 150 million guests annually by 2030, which would bring its cumulative total to 1.5 billion guests since inception. The A321XLR fleet acquisition represents a pivotal component of this growth strategy.
The fuel-efficient A321XLR offers up to 20% lower fuel burn per seat compared to the Airbus A321neo, significantly improving the airline’s emissions performance and operational efficiency. This enhanced fuel economy aligns with AirAsia’s environmental performance goals while supporting cost-effective operations in an increasingly competitive global aviation market.
The multi-aircraft strategy allows AirAsia to better match capacity with demand across different route segments, reduce fuel consumption, and maintain sustainable growth while competing with established carriers on longer-haul routes previously dominated by full-service airlines.
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Published by Tim Chew
