AirAsia X prepares to reactivate its fleet and network after pandemic

AirAsia X is continuing to rebuild its network after the COVID-19 downturn, planning to commence new long-haul flights to Istanbul, Dubai and London by the end of the year.

The low-cost carrier is rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic and currently is operating five Airbus A330 aircraft, from a fleet of 11 A330s, it said in a quarterly results statement on August 24, 2022. The airline is currently running scheduled flights to Seoul in South Korea and Delhi in India and intends to add services to Australia and Japan by the end of the year as well.

“In the coming months we will be reactivating more aircraft to return to popular medium haul leisure destinations in Australia, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia,” acting group CEO Tony Fernandes commented. “Soon, we will also be launching new short haul services to Bali for the first time and more exciting new longer haul destinations to Istanbul, Dubai and London, which will start operations by the end of the year.”

The budget carrier previously flew to London in 2009 but was forced to withdraw due to high fuel prices and weak demand.

AirAsia X said it hopes to have 15 A330 aircraft in operation by “the first half of calendar year 2023 to meet strong consumer demand.” However, that represents a slight delay from June 2022, when management said that the airline was currently using six of its A330s and hoped to have 15 of the Airbus aircraft in operation by the end of 2022.

The airline hopes to return daily services to most destinations before 2023, and Fernandes said there were positive signs for China too, which has had some of the strictest COVID-19 travel restrictions.