SEPANG: AirAsia Bhd has become the first airline in Southeast Asia to operate the Airbus A320 neo (new engine option) aircraft.
The airline's group chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the new aircraft will allow AirAsia to further reduce its operating costs by 20 per cent to 25 per cent per year as well as lower the prices of its airfares.
"This aircraft allows us to reduce our fares with 15 per cent fuel savings. On top of that, we have six extra seats on this aircraft," Fernandes told reporters after welcoming AirAsia's first A320 neo here, today.
Also present at the event was Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, French Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Christophe Pinot, British High Commissioner to Malaysia H.E Marguerite Treadell, AirAsia X Bhd group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, AirAsia CEO Aireen Omar, Airbus executive Vice President (strategy and marketing) Kiran Rao, and CFM executive Vice President Allen Paxson.
The new A320 neo is configured with 186 seats and powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines.
The aircraft is AirAsia group's 172nd aircraft that was received from a total of 575 aircraft in its order book.