Image: AirAsia
Adelaide travellers who already use Bali as a jumping-off point for Asia could have plenty to watch in AirAsia’s next chapter, with the low-cost airline making history through a huge new Airbus aircraft order.
AirAsia X has confirmed a firm agreement for 150 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with the flexibility to increase the commitment to 300 aircraft in the future. Valued at approximately USD19 billion at list prices, the deal is being described as the single largest firm order for the A220 type placed by any airline globally.
Indonesia AirAsia currently connects Adelaide with Denpasar, with the direct Bali route offering locals a holiday link as well as onward connections through AirAsia’s wider Asian network. Adelaide Airport previously said the service connects travellers to more than 130 destinations across Asia and beyond, including Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Korea, Japan and India.
The new fleet order gives a strong indication of where the airline’s network is heading. The A220-300 is expected to help AirAsia increase frequencies on existing routes, improve connection windows, and open smaller or fast-growing markets that may not have previously stacked up commercially.
The airline has also debuted as the global launch customer for a new high-density 160-seat configuration of the aircraft, which Airbus says adds 10 seats through an extra overwing exit on each side. The aircraft is expected to service destinations across ASEAN and beyond, freeing up larger aircraft for longer routes.
For many South Australians, Denpasar has become a practical one-stop gateway into Southeast Asia and beyond, especially as AirAsia continues to promote affordable onward connections from Bali.
Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Group, said the new aircraft will help the airline build a bigger and denser network.
“AirAsia has spent more than two decades making the world smaller,” Mr Lingam said. “We built Malaysia into the world’s top low-cost carrier hub, and we opened up air travel to millions of people across Asia who had never flown before.”
“This plane gives us the ability to build the biggest and densest network, serving as a vital tool for efficiency.
“Its range of up to 7 hours opens up entirely new possibilities, and allows us to match right-sized capacity to demand and give our guests the flexibility to fly whenever they want through increased frequencies.
“We have democratised travel in Asia by opening up routes that were never feasible before, and now we are going to do it for the world.”
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia Group, said the order reflected the scale of the airline’s future 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.”
Deliveries are expected to begin from 2028, with the aircraft set to support AirAsia’s future network strategy across Asia and the Asia Pacific. For Adelaide travellers, it is not a promise of new routes just yet, but it is a clear sign that AirAsia is investing heavily in the type of aircraft and network model that could make more flexible, affordable one-stop international travel even easier in the years ahead.
For more information, visit https://newsroom.airasia.com/news
