Airline AirAsia X buys new aircraft engines
Long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X has purchased engines from GE Aviation for more than $600 million. The six new engines are intended for three Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
The low-cost airline, known for the cheap flight tickets, has already ordered three A330-200s at an earlier stage. Delivery of the new aircraft is planned from 2014. As a result, a total of 28 aircraft type A330 are on order.
The GE deal, signed in New York last Wednesday, is to replace and overhaul the current engines. “AirAsia X wants the latest, most technologically advanced and fuel efficient engines from GE. This aligns with our vision and business objectives,” said the airline's CEO Rafidah Aziz.
AirAsia X carried 1,92 million passengers last year. AirAsia X's 14 destinations include: London, Tehran, Tokyo, Delhi and Melbourne.
Editorial postscript: before flying to Thailand is it interesting to keep following AirAsia X. It was once rumored that AirAsia X was a return ticket to Bangkok would offer for approximately € 125. An unprecedentedly low price for an airline ticket. When they also fly from Amsterdam or Düsseldorf, it becomes even more interesting. So wait.
600 million for 3 engines? That's 200 million for an engine. Isn't that a bit expensive?
@ Nok. It's been a while since I bought a new airplane engine so I don't know the current prices 😉
Here the original text:
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 May 2011 – Long-haul budget carrier AirAsia
The GE deal, which was signed in New York on Wednesday, will see the company provide maintenance, repair and overhaul of the engines as part of a 20-year agreement, the airline said in a statement.
I was also a bit surprised by the topic.
Air Asia has 3 Airbus A320 on order. These will be delivered in 2014.
Apparently only now has Air Aisa made a choice between the available engines, the General Electric, the Pratt & Whitney, or the Rolls-Royce.
It therefore concerns the purchase of 6 engines.
Tonight Benno Baksteen happened to be talking about engines in the program K&vdB and mentioned a price of € 100 million each.
Just a correction
Air Asia has on order
3 A330-200, for which the 6 new engines from GE (and no A320)
beside
15 A 330-300 and
10 A350-900
@ correct, I have corrected it. Well noticed.
Just a tip about AirAsia, they have a SALE at the moment for the period Feb 2012 – June 2012 with tickets to e.g. Phuket 20 baht return excluding tax of 200 baht, same for Udon Thani and other domestic destinations. Also international to e.g. Singapore and Hong Kong for baht 3800 return excl. tax. You have to be quick because the tickets are flying and the promotion lasts for a day or two.