18th June 2009
AirAsia says Duke of York instrumental in $2.2 billion Airbus/Rolls Royce deal
AirAsia X, the long-haul low cost affiliate of Malaysia's AirAsia Group, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 10 A350 XWB aircraft, powered by Rolls Royce engines, and credited the Duke of York as instrumental in its decision to buy Airbus/Rolls Royce.
AirAsia's Director and Founder, Tony Fernandes said: "The Duke of York’s involvement in the purchase of the Airbus A350 cannot be underestimated. The effort put in by HRH in ensuring Airbus/Rolls-Royce and financial institutions gave AirAsia a product that will make the world a smaller place was crucial in ensuring that Airbus got the nod over the competiton."
The order is good news for the British economy as the A350 wings will be built in North Wales.
The Duke welcomed Air Asia X to the UK in March this year, when the airline's inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur landed at Stansted Airport.
The airline will use the aircraft on a network linking its Asian hub in Kuala Lumpur with destinations worldwide, especially in Europe and Australia. AirAsia X has selected the A350-900 variant for its fleet, which will be configured to seat more than 400 passengers in a two-class layout.
"We are extremely pleased to add AirAsia X to the customer base of the A350 XWB," said Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders. "Offering a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn, the all-new A350 XWB will shape new levels of efficiency in the mid-size widebody category and will enable AirAsia X to benefit from the lowest possible operating costs per seat of any aircraft in its class."
The A350 XWB Family is Airbus' response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions.
