Aviation News – AirAsia X is preparing a major order for small regional jets to open new short- and medium-haul routes across Asia, while cancelling its planned purchase of 15 Airbus A330neo widebody aircraft, a strategic shift aimed at serving first-time travellers and boosting frequency.
The Malaysian long-haul low-cost carrier’s co-founder Tony Fernandes said on Wednesday that parent company Capital A, which recently restructured its aviation arm, will choose between Airbus and Embraer regional jet families within the next month. The upcoming order is expected to exceed earlier estimates and reflects a pivot toward smaller, more flexible aircraft better suited to developing markets and thinner routes across Southeast Asia.
The move marks a departure from the airline’s traditional reliance on widebody jets. Smaller aircraft would allow AirAsia X to operate more frequent services, lower operating costs, and reach secondary cities that cannot support large-capacity planes. Regional jets typically burn less fuel, require fewer passengers to break even, and offer faster turnarounds, improving aircraft utilization and profitability.
Photo Rob Vogelaar