Thai AirAsia (FD, Bangkok Don Mueang) is set to conclude the year with a fleet of 60 aircraft and intends to receive an additional four or five aircraft over the next five years, according to CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya, who made the announcement earlier this month during an AerCap event in Malaysia.
Klongchaiya noted that the low-cost carrier received two A321-200NX aircraft in June and July, bringing its total to four, with an expectation of a fifth this year. He mentioned that most of the incoming aircraft for the remainder of the decade will be NX types, but could also include some A321-200NY(XLR)s depending on route expansion strategies. While the new additions will increase the overall fleet size, some will serve to replace existing aircraft that are nearing the end of their lease periods.
Klongchaiya highlighted that the A321neo(XLR) presents exciting expansion possibilities, including potential routes to the Middle East. He described it as a “versatile plane” whose cost-efficiency would enable Thai AirAsia to consider expansion into secondary airports across Southeast Asia. “In the next five to ten years, Thailand’s aviation sector is likely to experience exponential growth,” he stated.
At the same event, AirAsia Aviation Group CEO Bo Lingam shared that the airline group—which includes AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia Cambodia, and Philippines AirAsia—is operating a total of 221 aircraft and aims to increase that number to 300 within the next five years. According to Airbus delivery data, AirAsia has 361 A320neo aircraft on order to supply its affiliate brands. Deliveries resumed in June after being halted during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery period.
AerCap is providing fifteen new A321-200NX aircraft to the group on long-term leases. Thai AirAsia received one aircraft, HS-EAD (msn 11971), in July, while its first aircraft, HS-EAC (msn 12089), was delivered from BBAM in June. AerCap also delivered two additional NX aircraft to AirAsia in July—9M-VAC (msn 11939) and 9M-VAD (msn 12132)—and plans to deliver the remaining 12 before the end of 2025.
