AirAsia X, the long haul affiliate of Asia’s largest low cost airline, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 55 A330neo aircraft. This is the largest single order to date for the A330 Family and reaffirms AirAsia X’s position as the biggest A330 airline customer worldwide, having now ordered a total of 91 aircraft. The announcement covers the firming up of an MOU for 50 A330neo signed during the Farnborough Air Show in July 2014, plus an additional five aircraft. Deliveries of the newly-ordered aircraft will begin in 2018.

“This latest deal with Airbus will enable AirAsia X to consolidate its growth rate in 2015-2017 before ramping up deliveries from 2018 onwards,” said Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, co-founder and director of AirAsia X. “We are extremely excited about the even greater levels of efficiency that will come with the A330neo, which will play a key role in enabling AirAsia X to maintain its position as the long haul low cost leader.”

“This order from AirAsia X is a major endorsement of the A330neo as the most cost-efficient aircraft in its size category,” said John Leahy, chief operating officer, Customers, Airbus. “We look forward to AirAsia X becoming one of the first operators of the latest version of the highly successful A330.”