AirAsia X won't buy 'too expensive' Airbus A350: co-group CEO

Malaysia’s AirAsia X has no plans to buy the Airbus A350 widebody jet, the airline’s co-group CEO said Monday, despite the airline having 10 of them on order. “The A350 is not an aircraft we will buy,” AirAsia X co-group CEO Tony Fernandes said in a Facebook Live chat from London. “Too expensive. Fares would go up.” AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of AirAsia Bhd (AIRA.KL), placed a firm order for 10 A350s in June 2009. It later ordered 66 A330neos, an updated version of the A330s it has in its current fleet. The A350-900 has a longer range but also comes with a higher list price of $317.4m, compared with the $296.4m price of the A330-900neo. Airlines typically receive large discounts from the list prices. Manufacturers sometimes allow airlines to swap models even though they have placed firm orders and paid deposits, meaning AirAsia X might be able to convert the A350 order to other Airbus jets like the A330neo or A320 family. The AirAsia group is one of Airbus’ largest customers, but AirAsia X has also been talking to Boeing about buying the rival 787-10 jet, according to a source familiar with the discussions.<br/>