Latest news with #AirbusA321XLR
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
American Airlines' new Airbus jet grounded by supply chain issue
[TEXAS] American Airlines Group has finally taken possession of its first long-range Airbus A321XLR aircraft, but the plane will remain in Europe because of a supply chain issue that's caused a shortage of seats. The carrier signed paperwork to accept the plane in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday (Jul 25), American said. The company, which ordered 50 of the longer-range aircraft in 2019, plans to initially use this first plane on US transcontinental routes later this year before shifting it to international service. The aircraft is part of American's plan to increase its long-haul fleet to 200 in 2029 from about 125 today. It will also help it capitalise on rising consumer demand for upscale travel options. The aircraft, equipped with 20 suites and 12 premium seats, has the longest range of any single-aisle commercial jet. The plane 'will remain in Europe until ongoing seat supply chain challenges are resolved', the airline said, declining to name the seat manufacturer. Aircraft built in Europe currently get 10 per cent tariffs as part of US President Donald Trump's trade war. The A321XLR delay is not related to those levies, American said. Chief executive officer Robert Isom said in April that the carrier did not plan to absorb extra tariff charges. Delta Air Lines also has new Airbus jets stranded in Europe, because their seats have not yet been certified by regulators, Bloomberg reported earlier this month, citing sources familiar with the matter. The carrier has been cannibalising some of the stranded aircraft by stripping off their US-made engines and using them to get grounded planes in America back into service. BLOOMBERG
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia seeks Airbus, Embraer investment in MRO and supply chain
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is pushing for global aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Embraer to establish the country as a key hub for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations, training, and supply chain activities. This follows major aircraft purchase agreements by AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines. Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that the government is ensuring these aircraft deals bring broader economic benefits to Malaysia. 'Our strategy ensures these purchases are not one-way transactions. We want investments that boost Malaysia's aerospace sector,' he said during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to Brazil. Loke also proposed that Airbus consider Malaysia as a potential location for a final aircraft assembly line, given the company's backlog of 8,000 undelivered planes. 'Airbus faces supply chain challenges. We hope they expand operations here, creating jobs and strengthening our aerospace industry,' he added. AirAsia has confirmed an order for Airbus A321XLR long-haul jets worth US$12.25 billion (RM51.72 billion), with deliveries starting in 2028. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines' parent company, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), has ordered 20 additional A330neo aircraft, bringing its total commitment to 40. Deliveries for the new batch are expected between 2029 and 2031. Malaysia's aerospace capabilities are already recognized, with Composites Technology Research Malaysia in Melaka producing aircraft components for Airbus and Boeing. Embraer, with nearly 200 E-Jets operating in Asia Pacific, has also drawn interest from AirAsia and Air Borneo. - Bernama
The Advertiser
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Why Qantas' new aircraft is a game changer for Australian travellers
The new Qantas Airbus A321XLR lands in Sydney. By Sarah Falson If you fly domestically you will have noticed what a pain trying to fit carry-on into the overhead lockers can be. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area As aircraft become fuller with more people travelling around the country, overhead bin space is at a premium. Airlines are adopting the "one up, one down" rule where you must store your smaller carry-on bag under the seat in front of you, meaning there is less space for your legs. The Airbus A321XLR, named Great Ocean Road, arrived in Sydney at the start of July, with flight QF6041 flying from Hamburg to Bangkok, and making history as the longest A321XLR flight operated by a commercial airline. The flight then continued on to Sydney, touching down at Sydney Airport. The aircraft is one of 28 Qantas has on order. The airline claims the aircraft offers the widest cabin of any narrowbody aircraft globally, with space for 60 per cent more bags, wider economy class seats, more economy and business class seats, and larger windows than the Boeing 737. Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson said the aircraft marked the beginning of an "exciting new chapter" for Australians. Economy seats in the new Qantas Airbus A321XLR. Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, the new A321XLR is a positive step in upgrading the fleet that most Australians travel on. But it doesn't just offer more space. It also incorporates advanced lightweight materials and design technologies that can enable reduced fuel burn and lower emissions, Qantas claims. Mr Long said: "The aircraft is more environmentally sound and fuel efficient and we are hopeful that this will put downward pressure on airfares as it should cost less to operate than the existing fleet." Economy seat backs in the new Qantas Airbus A321XLR. "While we haven't seen any announcements yet, we do believe that the aircraft will also allow for some new routes to be opened up into Asia and across the Pacific," he said. Mr Long said we should see the impact of the new aircraft when Qantas deploys the aircraft internationally. "Its extended range should allow QF to ramp up capacity on key Asian routes such as Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore putting some additional capacity to bring airfares down," he said. And then there's the all-important bin space. Qantas Airbus A321XLR business class. "As regular travellers know, overhead bin space is a source of frustration for most travellers," Mr Long said. "This aircraft's design maximises this space and should make it a little easier for people to find a temporary home for their bags above their seats. "I also personally like the larger window sizes that will allow people sitting in the aisle to also see out into the world in which they fly." Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
Malaysiakini
05-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysiakini
AirAsia inks US$12.25b Airbus deal to add 70 long-range jets
AirAsia has signed an agreement to buy US$12.25 billion (RM51.72 billion) worth of long-range Airbus A321XLR aircraft, with deliveries confirmed by 2028, said Capital A Bhd CEO Tony Fernandes. He said the low-cost carrier inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus in Paris today for 50 A321XLRs with rights for 20 A321XLRs, the new fleet of which is targeted to serve Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, among others. 'This will probably make us one of the...
New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AirAsia buys 50 Airbus A321XLR for RM51.7bil in bid to be global low-cost airline
KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd, the parent company of AirAsia Bhd, has announced a landmark order for 50 Airbus A321XLR (extra long-range) aircraft in a deal valued at RM51.7 billion (US$12.25 billion). The acquisition comes with the conversion rights for 20 more aircraft as the airline embarks on a bold step towards becoming a global low-cost network carrier. Capital A chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the order marks a significant shift for AirAsia, which will be one of the largest operators of the extra long-range A321XLR once deliveries begin in 2028 through 2032. "This order enables us to have a narrowbody fleet that can cover the world. It's really transformative. "We believe we can build the world's first low-cost narrowbody network carrier," he said in a media briefing yesterday. Fernandes signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the aircraft order with Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO, Christian Scherer yesterday in Paris. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The aircraft order was a year in the making, Fernandes said, adding that it is a crucial step in AirAsia's long-term strategy to expand globally without the high-risk cost structure of widebody aircraft. He said AirAsia would evolve into a low-cost network airline akin to Qatar Airways or Emirates, except that the budget carrier will be flying more narrowbody aircraft. "Seven per cent of our passengers already connect through Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok onto another flight," Fernandes said, adding that the airline can be a network carrier. He also said that the order is a clear signal that AirAsia's post-pandemic recovery and restructuring efforts are on track. "This shows the confidence we have going forward. As I said at the Paris Airshow that we wanted to make sure we had a clear path to restructuring, a raising of capital and getting all our aircraft back into operation." "We now feel that the worst is over, and so we've got to start planning for growth; before we miss this opportunity as slots get taken up," Fernandes added. The A321XLRs, with a flying range of up to nine hours, is set to reshape AirAsia's global footprint by enabling long-haul, point-to-point routes using narrowbody jets. The aircraft will allow AirAsia to adopt a similar model to Middle Eastern carriers, using a single-stop hub approach to connect Southeast Asia to Europe and the Americas. Fernandes said AirAsia plans to build a Middle East hub to connect Asia to Europe and further aims to establish a stopover in Europe for onward connections to America. For West Coast US routes, the budget carrier is eyeing destinations such as Japan as a connecting hub. "We're hoping to launch our first European flight this year," Fernandes said, adding that the initial flights will use existing A330s until the new A321XLR arrives. "I can announce Istanbul is around the corner, as well as one destination in Western Europe and three or four Eastern European destinations," he added. The A321XLR is expected to significantly lower AirAsia's operating costs and unlock markets previously inaccessible due to range and aircraft size limitations. Compared to the 380-seat A330, the 240-seat A321XLR offers more flexible deployment and stronger yield management, Fernandes said. He projected AirAsia's fares to Europe and the U.S. to be 30 to 50 per cent cheaper than the current market averages. "Our goal is to not take anyone's market share. It's to allow people to fly to places they never dreamt of flying," Fernandes said, adding that AirAsia's network will also open opportunities for cargo. The A321XLR aircraft will also enable more frequent flights, faster turnarounds, and access to secondary cities in Asean. Fernandes said cities like Penang, Johor Bahru, and Bali could be potential launch points for long-range XLR flights. "We can start using XLR from Bali, Penang and Johor Bahru. Johor's Senai Airport will be a big play for us," he added.
