KUALA LUMPUR (XFN-ASIA) - Long-haul budget carrier AirAsia is to acquire 15 Airbus A330-300 aircraft, chief executive Tony Fernandes said.
In April, the company signed an order with Airbus for up to 10 of the aircraft, with an option to buy five more.
'By end of June, we will firm the order for an additional five A330-300s. Negotiations are going on now,' Fernandes said.
The aircraft are scheduled for delivery from the fourth quarter of 2008.
Fernandes also said that the budget carrier would decide whether to buy a further 10 A330-300s by end of the year.
'Talks with Airbus are yet to commence,' he said.
The airline will begin its first long-haul flights using three leased planes.
'Our maiden flights will be to China and Australia in September,' Fernandes said.
Destinations for AirAsia long-haul flights will eventually include Japan, South Korea, India, the Middle East and Europe.