随着第100架空中巴士A320NEO型飞机正式移交启用后，亚航公司确认所定购的另外275架空巴将在2026年前运抵。
亚航集团总执行长拿督斯里东尼费南德斯说，亚航空总共订购的375架空中巴士A320系列飞机，总值250亿美元。（753亿令吉）
他说，该公司在10年前只有2架空中巴士A320系列飞机，现在增至100架，成为东南亚区使用空中巴士A320系列飞机最大的航空集团。
他今天迎接第100架空中巴士A320NEO型飞机仪式后，发表谈话。这架飞机配合龙年为主题，机身画上“百龙腾飞”的彩图，有关彩图动用20名漆工，在12天内，用600公升漆完成。
今年增加更多航线
东尼费南德斯说，这架画上“百龙腾飞”的彩图的飞机主要是飞往澳门、雅加达、新加坡及香港等城市。
他说，亚航在过去10年来，已为1亿4000万搭客提供服务。
另外，东尼费南德斯表示，该公司今年计划增加更多的航线，其中将增加的航线包括中国的西安、重庆及厦门。
Thai Airways, in a 1Q2012 investor presentation, confirmed (Jan-2012) Thai Smile plans to commence its first service on 01-Jul-2012, after receiving its first new aircraft in Jun-2012. The carrier, a new fully-owned LCC subsidiary of Thai Airways, is expected to take delivery of four narrowbody aircraft in 2012, followed by six in 2013, eight in 2014, and 11 aircraft p/a between 2015 and 2018.
Thai Airways stated the carrier will be based at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, with a network of domestic and regional secondary routes. The carrier plans to commence with domestic services, but has outlined the following services as future destinations (although no timetable was disclosed for service launches): Kochi, Hyderabad, Amedabad, Luang Prabang, Yangon, Seoul, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau, Danang, Phuket, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
The carrier will operate a two-class product.
In contrast, Nok Air will operate domestic point-to-point services from its Bangkok Don Meung base, with a network covering the following destinations: Mae Hong Son, Chiangmai, Roi Et, Buri Ram, Surat Thani, Mae Sot Nan, Phitsanulok, Loei, Udon Thani, Nakon Phanom, Trang, Hat Yai, Narathiwat, Nakon Si, Thammarat, Sakon Nakhon, Ubon Ratchathani and Phuket.
Thai Airways noted Thai Smile will sit between Nok Air, which connects domestic destinations with a no-frills service, and Thai Airways, which has a focus on domestic, regional and intercontinental routes with a premium service and product (widebody premium regional services and two and three-class intercontinental services).
Thai Smile will start off with four Airbus A320 planes operating domestic flights and one direct flight to Macau.
Budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA has signed deals worth $127 billion kronor ($A20.68 billion) to purchase 222 planes from Boeing and Airbus.
The total order, which includes 122 Boeing 737 aircraft and 100 Airbus A320 planes for delivery starting in 2016, is the largest ever aircraft purchase in Europe, Norwegian Air Shuttle said.
“Today is a historic day for Norwegian,” its CEO Bjoern Kjos said.
“We have secured our fleet renewal for years to come and are very pleased with the agreements with both Airbus and Boeing.”
Norwegian Air Shuttle, one of Europe’s fastest growing airlines, sees the acquisition of new, fuel-efficient aircraft as key to its strategy to offer low-cost fares. It has expanded rapidly in Europe, and Kjos told The Associated Press last month that it’s now planning to launch long-haul operations, with flights to New York and Bangkok scheduled to start in early 2013.
The deal with Boeing includes orders for 100 Boeing 737 MAX8s and 22 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s, in addition to purchase rights for an additional 100 737 MAX8 aircraft. Boeing said Norwegian is the first European carrier to complete an order for its 737 MAX aircraft.
“The total order is valued at $US11.4 billion ($A10.92 billion) at list prices and represents the largest-ever Boeing order from a European airline,” the American company said.
The Airbus agreement is for 100 Airbus A320neo planes, with purchase rights for an additional 50. The neo is a modified version of the existing workhorse jet, the A320, with improved engines and modified wingtips to make it more fuel-efficient.
Norwegian, which had previously only used Boeing planes, said it would benefit from using two aircraft suppliers “both in terms of ensuring adequate flight capacity, flexibility and competition between two manufacturers.”
Kjos, a former fighter pilot, owns 27 per cent of Norwegian, founded in 1993 and listed on the Oslo stock exchange 10 years later. After struggling to make a profit in its early years, Norwegian bought competitor FlyNordic from Finnair in 2007 and ordered 42 new Boeing 737 planes, lowering fuel and maintenance costs.
Before the announcement Wednesday, Norwegian had placed orders for 55 Boeing 737-800s and six Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Last year, the airline flew about 13 million passengers, rapidly gaining ground on regional competitor Scandinavian Airlines.