KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd is rumoured to lease two Boeing 777-300ERs in the second quarter of this year as it plans to relaunch the Kuala Lumpur (KL) to London (Gatwick Airport) route in June.
According to Centre of Aviation (CAPA), AirAsia X had initially planned to wait for the delivery of its A330-900 neo (new engine option) to resume the long-haul flight from here to Europe.
“The group was initially aiming to start operating A330-900neos from 2018, but the first delivery has been delayed to early 2019. Short-term leases on two B777-300ERs give AirAsia X at least an 18-month jump on resuming London — a strategically important market,” said CAPA in its report on Monday.
However, AirAsia X chief executive officer (CEO) Benyamin Ismail told NST Business that the airline is just exploring other aircraft to begin the European route earlier, while waiting for the delivery of its A330neos.
“But our focus is still the A330neo. We’re just looking at the B777 as there are many out there coming out of lease,” he said when contacted yesterday.
AirAsia Bhd co-founder and group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes also echoed the same sentiment.
“We are looking (at the B777) but doubt we would do it,” he said in a text reply yesterday.
Meanwhile, CAPA said AirAsia X needs to ensure it flies the right aircraft at the right cost when resuming the KL-London flight.
“Resuming London route may seem important but unless there are compelling competitive pressures, AirAsia X can afford to wait another 18 to 24 months,” said CAPA, adding that AirAsia X’s financial position needs to be strong before re-launching the long-haul route.
AirAsia X had suspended its flights to London and Paris in 2012 due to high fuel prices and weak demand. Instead, the airline focused on Asean, Australia and North Asia by introducing more flights over the years.
The airline is expected to be profitable for the first time in fiscal year 2016 since it first started operations in 2007.
Yesterday, AirAsia X launched daily flights from here to Wuhan, China. The new route utilises Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a capacity of 377 seats.
“Together with our short-haul affiliate AirAsia, we are the largest foreign carrier into China, and Wuhan will soon be a virtual hub for the AirAsia and AirAsia X groups as it is set to receive 32 weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Phuket.
“China is a segment that continues to record encouraging progressive performance every year and will remain to be the focus in AirAsia X’s network expansion strategy. We are committed to maintaining the positive growth in this core market,” said Benyamin in a statement.