AirAsia X looking at some 25 A350s or 787s, plus more A340s

Malaysia's AirAsia X is evaluating an order for around 25 Boeing 787s or Airbus A350 XWBs as it seeks additional Airbus A340s to boost its widebody fleet in the interim.

The long-haul budget carrier has recently taken delivery of the first of 25 A330-300s it has on order, and early next year will introduce an ex-Air Canada A340-300 on lease from Orix Aviation. This aircraft will be used to launch services between Kuala Lumpur and London Stansted in March.

Speaking during an event in London to promote the new Stansted service, AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes revealed that while additional A340s were under consideration in the near term, the airline ultimately aims to acquire a large fleet of A350s or Boeing 787s.

"We are looking at about 25. Seeing as we are so Airbus-driven, it is more likely to be the A350 than the 787," he says, adding: "The timeline as to when we do this depends on the manufacturers, but we are in active discussions."

Fernandes says that more immediate plans call for two more A340s "as soon as possible".