Bangkok--22 Jan--Thai AirAsia
Airbus has today delivered A320 manufacturing serial number 3000 (MSN3000) to Asia’s largest low cost carrier, AirAsia. The official handover to Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, by Louis Gallois, Airbus President and CEO, and co-CEO of EADS, took place at a ceremony held at Airbus’ new Henri Zeigler delivery centre in Toulouse, France.
The ceremony was attended by Dominique Perben, French Minister of Transport, along with YB Dato’ Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport Malaysia; Peter Hintze, Germany’s Parliamentary State Secretary; Margaret Hodge, Ministry of Trade and Industry, UK; and Joan Clos, Spain’s Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
The delivery is part of AirAsia’s original order for 60 A320s in March 2005 and follows the airline’s recent announcement for a firm order for an additional 50 A320s and a further 50 on option, making AirAsia a leading Airbus A320 customer with a total order of 150 A320 aircraft plus 50 options.
Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia, said, “It is our honour to welcome the 3000th manufacturing serial number, which is the 51st aircraft entering into our growing fleet. We are very happy with the Airbus A320 and the aircraft has helped us tremendously in our efforts to boost efficiency, enhance reliability, reduce costs and provide higher service levels for our guests.”
“We have confirmation from Airbus that AirAsia will be the launch customer of the enhanced passenger cabin which will be fitted to the new A320, and this is certainly good news for us as we strive to provide greater comfort for our guests. The new features include new ceiling and window panels for further noise reduction, enlarged overhead compartment for increased volume for luggage and enhanced flight attendant panel functionality. Airbus will introduce the new passenger cabin by July 2007,” he added.
Dato’ Tony also said, “We’ve just concluded our 5 years in operation and as we enter ‘Chapter 2’ of AirAsia, the additional order will allow us to further strengthen our route network in the region by developing our hubs in Bangkok and Jakarta, connecting more points and expanding into Indo China, Indonesia, Southern China and India. The latest aircraft with a special livery featuring our cabin crew is one of the many facets of livery we are proud to own as it symbolizes our superior service to our guests and our recognition for the tireless efforts and commitment put in by our dedicated team at AirAsia.”
“Reaching MSN3000 is a significant milestone in the A320 production cycle and tangible proof of the immense popularity of Airbus’ A320 Family”, said Louis Gallois. “With its unbeatable economics and enormous passenger appeal, I am confident that the A320 will continue to be the preferred choice with established airlines, passengers and low-cost carriers alike. In order to keep up with the tremendous demand, Airbus plans to introduce a steady ramp up of production for the A320 Family from its current rate of 30 aircraft per month to 36 around the end of 2008 - the highest production rate ever for any commercial airliner.”
The A320 Family’s optimised cabin cross-section — the widest single-aisle fuselage on the market — sets new standards for passenger cabin flexibility in this segment. It allows for top-of-the-range comfort with wider seats and aisles, or an extra-wide aisle for the fast turnarounds that are essential in the low-cost markets.
With more than 4,900 aircraft ordered and with 187 operators, the A318, A319, A320 and A321 make up the world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. Designed to optimise revenue through cabin adaptability and passenger comfort and featuring the most modern and complete fly-by-wire technology available on any single-aisle aircraft, they ensure savings in every element of direct operating cost and provide operators with the highest degree of operational commonality and economy for aircraft in the 100-220 seat category.
The A320 Family’s impressive level of dispatch reliability further enhances profitability and passenger service. In addition, the A320 Family is an environmentally responsible neighbour, offering the lowest fuel burn, emissions and noise footprints in its class.
The A320 entered airline service in April 1988 and rapidly established itself as the industry standard for passenger comfort and economy on short and medium-haul routes. Typically seating 150 passengers in two classes or up to 180 for low-cost operations, the A320 has a range of up to 5,700km/3,000nm. The A320 is in widespread service on five continents, flying routes that range from short European commuter sectors, through European charter operations to coast-to-coast US flights.
Airbus is an EADS company.
About AirAsia
AirAsia revolutionized air travel in the region to become the leading and largest low fare airline in Asia. Entering into its 5th year, AirAsia to date has an astounding fleet size of 50 aircraft, an achievement the young airline is proud to carry. AirAsia together with its associates Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia have carried over 27 million passengers. The airline’s extensive network presently serves over 70 domestic and international routes to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, Xiamen, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.