Outlook Business Desk
AirAsia Berhad, part of Capital A Berhad, has signed a $12.25 billion deal with Airbus for 50 A321XLR aircraft, with rights for 20 more. Deliveries are scheduled between 2028 and 2032, supporting its goal to become the world’s first low-cost narrow-body network carrier.
The $12.25 billion agreement was signed in Paris on Monday, in the presence of Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The signatories were Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
The new A321XLRs will join AirAsia’s all-Airbus fleet, which includes A320 and A330 aircraft. By 2030, the group aims to carry 150 million passengers annually, reaching 1.5 billion guests since its launch.
“We pioneered low-cost travel in Asia — now we’re taking it to the next level,” said Tony Fernandes. With the A321XLR and A321LR, AirAsia aims to become the world’s first low-cost narrow-body network carrier, connecting regions beyond ASEAN.
Fernandes added, “We gave people in ASEAN the chance to explore Asia — now we want the world to see ASEAN. These aircraft are game-changers, and we’re proud to lead the charge in making the world feel smaller.”
“We are pleased to confirm this agreement, as AirAsia begins its next development chapter. The airline has resumed its growth trajectory, which we salute and support,” said Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.
“The A321XLR unlocks new opportunities for AirAsia to launch non-stop flights linking primary and secondary cities worldwide, creating solid fleet efficiencies and enabling global network expansion.” he added.