Singapore, 14 February (Argus) — Malaysia-based low-cost carrier AirAsia is delaying the delivery of almost half its scheduled aircraft in 2012 to allow for the possibility of a switch to more fuel-efficient ones.
AirAsia ordered 175 Airbus A320 aircraft for delivery from December 2005 to October 2014 under an original purchase agreement, 24 of which were scheduled for 2012 delivery. The airline has now reduced 2012 deliveries to just 14 aircraft, deferring the other 10 to 2015 when it will receive 19, it said.
A key reason for the deferral is to give the airline “some flexibility to switch from its current order of the classic A320 to a new generation A320 aircraft which is more fuel efficient”, AirAsia said. It did not incur any penalties by revising the delivery schedule.
New wing tip devices will be available on the A320s starting late-2012, according to Airbus, which will add “more than 3.5pc savings in overall fuel consumption on long route sectors”. A newer A320neo engine will also improve fuel burn by 15pc and cut maintenance costs.
Surging jet fuel prices during the past year are forcing airlines to control their fuel expenditure by improving their fuel efficiency. AirAsia's average fuel cost is expected to rise by 21.4pc during the same period last year to $97.22/bl in the quarter ending February 2011, according to estimates by Malaysian bank CIMB. Fuel consumption is expected to rise by 7pc during the same period from 1.02mn bl to 1.09mn bl. But an appreciating Malaysian currency is expected to offset some of the US dollar increase.
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