396 seats in an AirAsiaX A330 low cost long haul truly arrives!
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Southeast Asia,
AirAsia
(CAPA) AirAsiaX has firmed up its order for 15 A330-300s at the Paris Air Show and reportedly plans to configure them with 396 seats in a single-class configuration. According to Airbus, A330-300s are typically configured to accommodate 335 passengers in two classes for regional routes, or 295 in three classes on long-haul routes of up to 5,650 nm.
So AirAsiaX will therefore achieve an 18-34% increase in seating density than typical A330-300 operators. This of course flows directly to lowering unit seat costs, to support discount fares.
Based on this configuration, AirAsiaX will enjoy massive cost advantages over its rivals.
Jetstar has 303 seats in its smaller A330-200s in a two-class configuration. According to Airbus, the A330-200 is typically configured for 293 seats in two classes, so Jetstar is achieving just a 3% gain on standard seating densities. Jetstar is set to receive the first four of the Qantas Group’s B787 from Aug-08. The aircraft will be split between the 787-8 (up to 300 seats in Jetstar's low-cost configuration, which is yet to be confirmed) and 787-9 (up to 350 seats). But the AirAsia configuration could prompt some fresh thinking at Jetstar.
AirAsiaX’s seating plan is also only 248 seats shy of the 644 seats planned by Emirates in its “high seat density” A380s – a significantly larger aircraft than the A330. One can only image how many seats AirAsiaX could fit in an A380, although future orders by the carrier are more likely for the A350XWB model, according to CEO, Azran Osman-Rani.
Director of Fly Asian Express (the operator of AirAsia X), Tony Fernandes, stated the carrier’s ambition is to be the world's most profitable point-to-point long haul low cost carrier. According to Mr Fernandes, the Southeast Asian market is “constantly looking for cheaper alternatives for air travel” and the carrier would continue to look into increasing its fleet via leases or acquisition to support growth.
So, more orders could be forthcoming for the airline that is set to take to the skies as early as Sep-07.
Date posted: 20-Jun-07.
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396 seats in an AirAsiaX A330 low cost long haul truly arrives! 
