The A321neo is the latest single-aisle aircraft set to become AirAsia Group Bhd’s backbone for its future operations.

A321neo is set to present the LCC group with greater efficiencies of over 10 percent in fuel savings and higher capacity which is 236 seats. It has about a 27 percent increase in seat capacity compared to AirAsia’s present fleet of A320 (180 seats) and A320neo (186 seats).

A321neo is a new member of the Airbus A320 family incorporating the latest technologies such as new generation engines and sharklets. The aircraft was the first of 353 A321neos on order by the group, will eventually replace the existing fleet of A320 and A320neo aircraft throughout the network covering Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Japan.

A321neo will enable AirAsia to serve strong ongoing demand across the network with significant operational efficiencies and open up opportunities including new destinations. AirAsia’s A321 order program is expected to complete within six years to replace its A320 orders.

AirAsia will initially operate the aircraft from its Kuala Lumpur hub to cities across Asia, with the first destinations including Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Singapore, Bangkok, and Shenzhen.

Earlier Mohamaddin said the new generation aircraft allows AirAsia to further boost air connectivity to and from Malaysia ahead of Visit Malaysia 2020.

AirAsia converted 253 orders for the A320neo to the larger A321neo version, with a total of 353 aircraft on order, making AirAsia one of the world’s largest customer for the A321neo.

AirAsia Group currently operates a wholly Airbus Family fleet of aircraft, flying out of its hubs in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Japan.