AirAsia Group to reduce fleet size in 2021

AirAsia India will be the group’s only unit to see fleet growth by the end of 2021, amid an ongoing investment review conducted by the low-cost group. In slides presented at an analyst briefing following the release of its Q3 results, AirAsia Group states in its outlook that it has “planned for reduction in our fleet count to match our expected recovery” post-pandemic. The group, comprising units in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and India, anticipates a reduction of 23 aircraft by the end of 2021 to 221 aircraft. By the end of 2020, the group will have one less aircraft than the end of 2019. This is led by a decrease in fleet size from Thai AirAsia, as well as the now-shuttered AirAsia Japan. Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad, as well as Indonesia AirAsia, will have zero aircraft growth for the year, while Philippines AirAsia and AirAsia India will expand their fleet by one and four aircraft respectively. By 2021, all of the group’s carriers, except AirAsia India, will reduce their fleet size by between one to eight aircraft. AirAsia India, meanwhile, will add one aircraft to its fleet. AirAsia India’s five aircraft addition between 2020 and 2021 is reported to be Airbus A320neos, of which it currently has two examples in its fleet.<br/>