KUALA LUMPUR, September 15 – AirAsia, the world’s leading low-cost airline, is set to fully reactivate its 204 aircraft with the continued support of its long-term partner and engine provider, CFM International. The renewed agreement with CFM is seen as a crucial catalyst for AirAsia to bring back its entire fleet across the Group. Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, stated, After over two years of Covid, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
We have made enormous strides in bringing back our planes and restarting our operations, balancing a mismatch of the cost of 204 planes and revenue from flying an average of 143 planes this year. Today, we have brought back 175 planes. CFM’s fleet stability support brings a vital catalyst for us to return to full activation. I am proud of Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), our own engineering facility, and want to thank each and every one of our engineers for not only doing the day-to-day work but also focusing on the Group’s aircraft reactivation work.
We look forward to fourth-quarter results when we’re going to see the real performance of AirAsia with the full fleet. Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation, added, We are very pleased with the latest development with our engine supplier and service provider. This will accelerate our plan to bring capacity back, in fact more than in 2019, as we will be more efficient. This will allow for higher utilization of planes with less downtime and more consistent flight schedules with better on-time performance, and enable more efficient use of spares with our engineering arm, ADE. T
his bodes well for our commitment to safety, reliability, and operational excellence. CFM’s strong focus on fleet stability and service support aims to help AirAsia operate its LEAP engine fleet more efficiently, reducing maintenance costs and operational expenses. Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International, stated, AirAsia has been a valuable CFM customer for nearly two decades, and we are delighted to support them in their plans to fully reactivate their fleet.
We take AirAsia’s trust as a great responsibility to keep supporting their fleet with the high-level CFM standards. AirAsia is looking forward to capitalizing on this achievement as it reinstates its 204-fleet and expands to more than 300 aircraft in the next five years. The airline remains committed to connecting people across ASEAN and beyond with affordable and best-value travel options.
