AirAsia X plans to launch narrowbody operations in 2026 with six A321-200NX or A321-200NX(LR)s to serve new routes to North Asia and China from Kuala Lumpur.
The airline has no direct orders for these aircraft but may access sister carrier AirAsia’s order book, which includes 36 A321-200NX(LR)s and 322 A321-200NXs. AirAsia X and AirAsia will merge under a single certificate, consolidating orders, including 20 A321-200NY(XLR)s, while potentially dropping 15 A330-900N orders.
Three parked A330-300s, grounded due to Rolls-Royce Trent 700 issues, will return to service by year-end, with one additional used A330-300 planned for 2026. AirAsia X currently operates 19 A330-300s, with 13 active, as part of its long-haul low-cost strategy.
Benyamin Ismail shared: “The jets would allow the airline to launch new routes to North Asia and China directly from Kuala Lumpur International.”
