08/05/2026

First page Previous page 15 Next page Last page

FRIDAY | MAY 8, 2026

BIZ & FINANCE

AirAsia X seals US$19b Airbus A220 order

o New-generation aircraft to replace ageing A320s, support higher flight frequencies and unlock smaller high-growth markets

From left: Wagner,

Frechette, Fernandes, Carney and Canada Minister of Industry, minister responsible for Canada economic development for Quebec regions Melanie Joly at a ceremony at Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada.

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) signed a firm agreement with Airbus for 150 Airbus A220-300 aircraft valued at approximately US$19 billion (RM75 billion) at list prices, with the strategic flexibility to upsize the commitment to 300 aircraft in the A220 family to meet future demand. This landmark agreement represents the single largest firm order for the A220 type placed by any airline globally. The move signals a decisive shift in AirAsia’s future fleet strategy, prioritising operational discipline and margin protection in an evolving global market. The order was officially announced at a ceremony at the Airbus facility in Mirabel, Canada, attended by Capital A CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Airbus commercial aircraft CEO Lars Wagner. The event was held in the presence of Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Quebec Premier Christine Frechette. With this order, AirAsia makes history as the global launch customer for the high-density, 160-seat configuration. KUALA LUMPUR: Golden Destinations Group Bhd, a full-service outbound travel experience curator, has declared an interim dividend of 2.5 sen per ordinary share in respect of the financial year ending Dec 31, 2026. The entitlement date for the interim dividend is May 22, 2026, with payment scheduled for June 8, 2026. The interim dividend reflects the board’s confidence in the group’s financial position, operational performance and long-term growth prospects following its successful

This variant will be the group’s next-generation efficiency workhorse, providing the immediate right-sizing capacity required to optimise margins on mid-density routes. Fernandes said in an environment of high fuel prices and volatility, the answer is not to stand still, it’s to double down on efficiency. “This aircraft materially improves our fuel burn and trip costs, strengthening our resilience regardless of where the cycle goes. “We never waste a crisis at AirAsia – we make bold decisions at the right moment, not the easiest moment. This order reflects our long-term discipline and the scale of our ambitions. “The A220 is the perfect tool for our next phase of growth, allowing us to build the world’s first true low-cost network carrier. Beyond the airlines, this agreement strengthens the broader ecosystem we have built in Capital A, from cargo to MRO, to digital businesses, and will create real jobs and opportunities in the markets we fly to. “Our partnership with Airbus spans more than two decades and has been central to everything we listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on April 16, 2026. Managing director Mita Lim said the declaration of the group’s first dividend following the listing reflects its commitment to rewarding shareholders while maintaining a balanced approach towards reinvesting for future growth. “We remain focused on executing our expansion plans, strengthening our operational capabilities and enhancing our market presence. “We are encouraged by the

Wagner said the A220 will provide an optimal platform for AirAsia, combining low operating costs with the latest technology to maximise productivity and open new routes across Asia that were previously infeasible. “Everyone at Airbus has been pleased to work with AirAsia to finalise this new contract, which is fully aligned with the airline’s new network strategy,” he said. From 2028 onward, the aircraft will serve destinations across Asean and into the Asia Pacific, freeing up larger A320s and A321s to mid-haul routes and A330s to longer-haul routes into Europe, Australia and North America. destinations across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Oceania and Africa, catering to a wide range of traveller preferences via its extensive travel agent network. Looking ahead, Golden Destinations will continue to execute its post-listing growth strategies, including establishing its new centralised headquarters, strengthening brand visibility through intensified marketing initiatives, expanding its geographical footprint into East Malaysia and Singapore, and enhancing its IT infrastructure and workforce capabilities.

The A220 is a natural strategic fit within the group’s multi-gauge fleet. It will give AirAsia the flexibility to meet demand, enabling it to increase flight frequencies on existing routes, offer multiple daily departures, improve connectivity windows, and support fly-through traffic. Furthermore, the A220’s capacity means it can reach profitability with fewer passengers than the larger narrowbody alternatives. This opens up smaller, high growth markets and secondary hubs that were previously commercially unviable, advancing AirAsia’s mission to make the world smaller and ensuring everyone can fly. curated travel itineraries, developing travel experience packages and coordinating travel services with global travel partners, supported by a nationwide network of over 800 travel agents for distribution to outbound travellers. With approximately three decades of experience in the travel industry, Golden Destinations has established a strong presence in Malaysia’s outbound travel segment. The group offers a diverse portfolio of travel experience packages covering

have achieved. Today is another milestone in that journey, and there are many more to come,” said Fernandes, who is also AirAsia group adviser. The A220 is highly scalable, providing a clear path to the future A220-500 variant to meet evolving capacity needs and serving as the successor to the ageing A320s in the similar 180+ seat capacity range. Powered by the latest engine technology, it is among the most efficient aircraft in its class, offering an optimal balance of range and capacity. It is approximately 20% more fuel efficient and produces about 20% fewer emissions than the A320ceo. continued demand for outbound travel and remain cautiously optimistic on the industry outlook. “Moving forward, we will continue to boost our position as a Travel Experience Curator via ongoing investments in branding, systems, workforce and geographical expansion,”he said. Golden Destinations primarily operates as a business-to-business (B2B) outbound travel experience curator within its flagship Golden Destinations brand portfolio. The group focuses on designing

Golden Destinations declares 2.5 sen interim dividend

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

thesun.my

Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease