- AirAsia returns 25 older aircraft to lessors during 2026
- Twelve A320-200s returning from Indonesia and Philippines operations
- Capacity down 11pc year-on-year in second quarter
- Suspended Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Gatwick service
- New A220-300 and A321XLR deliveries begin 2028
AirAsia Group plans to return 25 older aircraft to lessors during 2026 as it cuts fixed lease costs and reduces capacity in underperforming markets, while new A220-300 and A321-200NY(XLR) deliveries are due to begin in 2028. The group disclosed the fleet realignment in its second-quarter results, with group chief executive Bo Lingam previously indicating that twelve A320-200s would be returned, mostly from Indonesia AirAsia and Philippines AirAsia operations. AirAsia declined to confirm the specific aircraft types and AOCs involved in the exercise.
The fleet realignment comes amid financial pressures exacerbated by the Middle East conflict and higher fuel costs during the second quarter. The group reduced fleet allocations in the Philippines and Indonesia to focus on higher-yield domestic and core ASEAN routes, with capacity down 11pc year-on-year in the second quarter. AirAsia plans to cut third-quarter capacity by 20-25pc year-on-year before restoring capacity to pre-war levels in the final quarter.
AirAsia has also suspended underperforming long-haul routes and delayed its planned Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Gatwick fifth-freedom service, previously deferred to March 2027 amid the Middle East conflict. The group continues to face uncertainties but expresses confidence in its low-cost model, agile network and dominant position on core trunk routes. The fleet optimisation strategy aims to stabilise performance and protect shareholder value while positioning for eventual industry recovery.
AirAsia Group chief executive Bo Lingam shared the airline acted swiftly to cut unviable capacity and right-size fleet where routes underperformed.
