AirAsia was Airbus's first customer to use the new Henri Ziegler Centre in Toulouse. Another first was that the carrier was also among the first to introduce a redesigned passenger cabin interior for the A320.

AirAsia serves 80 routes and operates in 10 countries. It has taken delivery of 16 A320s and has 134 on order for delivery up to 2013.

Over the past two years, AirAsia has ordered 100 A320 aircraft. Earlier this month the carrier made another order, for 50 A320s with an additional 50 on option. The combined order of 150 aircraft makes AirAsia the third-largest A320customer in the world.

"Confirming the 50 options will give AirAsia first place," said Airbus CEO Louis Gallois.

Under AirAia Group's fleet-expansion plan, Thai AirAsia's CEO Tassapon Bejleveld expects its fleet will have a total of 40 aircraft and more than six million passengers by 2013. The airline has a total of 16 aircraft in its fleet, carrying a 50:50 ratio of foreign and domestic passengers.

Airbus' first A320 with the new cabin interior is scheduled for delivery to Thai AirAsia in October. Another aircraft painted with a Thai-style design will be delivered in November, he said.

In a marketing gimmick, the airline plans to announce a competition to create a unique Thai design for the new aircraft. Tassapon said the winner would have the right to fly with Thai AirAsia free for a year.

The new Airbus A320 will consume less fuel, translating into lower overhead costs and ultimately lower airfares. In addition, it will have less of an impact on the environment with lower emissions.

Airbus's CEO Gallois proclaimed that manufacturing serial number 3000 "stands before us as a testament to the popularity of the A320 family", with AirAsia among over 170 customers that have ordered almost 5,000 aircraft since the programme was launched. An influx of orders from AirAsia not only assured Airbus's financial health, but also confirmed the reality of the partnership between Malaysia and Airbus.

Gallois said the A320 family had enjoyed tremendous success through operators in every category, with low-cost carriers around the world making it their overwhelming preference.

Over the past five years, AirAsia Group has grown rapidly, starting from only two planes carrying 200,000 passengers. It has now carried 30 million passengers and this year alone will carry 18 million.

"By 2013 we believe we will be carrying 60 million passengers and be one of the largest airlines in the world," said Fernandes.

For Thai AirAsia, Tassapon said when all 40 A320 aircraft were delivered by 2012, it would provide a total of 320 flights a day, of which 50 per cent will depart from Bangkok's international airport. Now, there are 82 flights a day.

He said this year, Thai AirAsia would focus more on the foreign market, especially China, and it now provides flight services to Xiamen and Macau. It will expand to Shenzhen, Chendu, Kunming and Chonqing. Over the next few years, the airline will open more flights to China and India.

"Our goal is to fly to every major city in Asia," said Tassapon, adding that the company expects Bt5 billion in revenues for this year.

Sasithorn Ongdee

The Nation

Toulouse, france