AirAsia close to buying at least 100 Airbus jets in shift to A220, sources say
AirAsia close to buying at least 100 Airbus jets in shift to A220, sources say
PARIS – AirAsia is in advanced discussions to place an order for at least 100 Airbus jets at next week's Paris Airshow, a deal likely to mark the introduction to its fleet of the planemaker's smallest jet, the A220, industry sources have said.
Malaysia-based low-cost carrier AirAsia operates an all-Airbus fleet and has previously said it was looking to add smaller planes to its fleet for regional routes.
One of Airbus's biggest customers with a few hundred planes already on order, the airline has not placed an order since before the pandemic.
It has taken few deliveries in recent years and has been steadily restructuring its order book as it faced financial difficulties.
The company, hard hit by pandemic travel restrictions, was classified by Malaysia's stock exchange as financially distressed in 2022. It says it hopes to exit this status by the middle of 2025.
Capital A plans to sell its AirAsia aviation business to long-haul unit AirAsia X to consolidate long and short-haul operations under a single AirAsia brand.
AirAsia and Airbus declined to comment. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Top Africa official in US government to leave in July, State Dept says
Top Africa official in US government to leave in July, State Dept says The U.S. State Department's top official for Africa, Troy Fitrell, will retire in mid-July, a State Department spokesperson said on Thursday, adding the Africa bureau's number two, Jonathan Pratt, will step into the role. The change in leadership at the State Department's Africa bureau will come as President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to shift its strategy in the region to focus on trade rather than assistance. "After a long and distinguished career, the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs Senior Bureau Official Ambassador Troy Fitrell is retiring in mid-July as planned," the State Department spokesperson said. "The Bureau of African Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jonathan Pratt will step into the senior bureau official role after Ambassador Fitrell's departure." Troy Fitrell, previously U.S. Ambassador to Guinea, has been running the Bureau of African Affairs in the absence of an officially nominated assistant secretary of State under Trump. The senior bureau official position serves in an acting capacity when an assistant secretary, a Senate-confirmed position, is yet to be named. Pratt, who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti from 2021-2023, will also bring experience in the region to the role. He also previously held assignments in Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Angola, among other postings, according to the State Department website. Fitrell will leave his post on July 15, one source with direct knowledge of the decision told Reuters earlier on Thursday. Fitrell shared his plans to leave by that date over an email, a second source said. Reuters did not review the email. Fitrell did not respond to a request for comment. He told reporters last month he had tasked U.S. ambassadors on the continent to find commercial opportunities for U.S. companies, as the Trump administration has focused on trade with the region. The U.S. is keen to counter both Chinese and Russian influence on the continent, particularly over minerals and trade. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
More home owners tapping HDB's lease buyback scheme to boost retirement income
As at Dec 31, 2024, 13,734 households have taken up the Lease Buyback Scheme. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE – Owners in Singapore are tapping their homes and other schemes to add to their retirement kitty. There is a steady increase in the number of home owners, for instance, who are selling part of the lease of their flats back to the Housing Board, with most of them getting between $100,000 and $300,000 in proceeds. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Italy says it needs at least 10 years to raise defence spending
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attends a joint press conference, on the day of a meeting to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and security in Europe, at Villa Madama in Rome, Italy, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane Italy says it needs at least 10 years to raise defence spending ROME - Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday said his country needs at least 10 years to raise defence spending and comply with new targets due to be agreed by NATO, adding that a deal on them could soon be reached. Italy is one of the defence spending laggards within the Western military alliance, having spent just 1.49% of gross domestic product last year against a current target of 2%, according to NATO data. Rome has said it would respect the 2% target in 2025, but mainly through a series of accounting changes which add to defence budget calculations items that were previously not included. "I believe that we can do good work with NATO and arrive at The Hague summit with an agreement ready beforehand, so that NATO can demonstrate its unity," Tajani said speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The alliance leaders will meet in The Hague on June 24-25. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, speaking in parliament, said it "is not possible" for Italy to meet U.S. requests for NATO allies to hike their defence budgets to 5% of GDP, and said an intermediate target of 3.5% "is not easy". Italy has limited room for spending, with its massive public debt projected to rise to almost 138% of GDP in 2026 before edging down the following year. "We are maintaining a conservative stance on the matter because we do not want other key investments, such as those on public health or social spending, to be affected", Crosetto said, adding that every government within NATO would need to discuss defence spending commitments with national parliaments. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
