Details of the Lease
AirAsia, the Kuala Lumpur-based low-cost airline, has announced the leasing of three A320-200s from Aircastle, formerly placed at the now-insolvent MYAirline. The CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group, Bo Lingam, confirmed the transfer and stated that the airline had expressed interest in picking up any returning aircraft from MYAirline.
The deal to take the aircraft was signed about a week ago, and AirAsia has paid the necessary deposits. The three A320s are presently stored at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The delivery timeline details have not been disclosed yet.
MYAirline's Current Situation
When MYAirline ceased operations in mid-October, it had nine A320-200s in Kuala Lumpur. Since then, several aircraft have been deregistered, and the remaining MYAirline aircraft are the three A320-200s now going to AirAsia, plus the Carlyle Aviation Partners owned and managed 9M-DAE (msn 3064) and the SMBC Aviation Capital supplied 9M-DAN (msn 3349).
MYAirline says that the aircraft still nominally placed with them are under the supervision of lessors with assistance from the carrier's Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization. A MYAirline spokesperson told ch-aviation that "advanced talks" with potential white knight investors continue, and the airline hopes to announce the next stage shortly.
AirAsia's Growth Amidst the Pandemic
AirAsia has been expanding its fleet and network despite the pandemic's challenges. The airline is optimistic about the future and is positioning itself for a strong recovery once travel restrictions ease. The leasing of these three A320-200s is a testament to AirAsia's commitment to growth and expansion in the region.
(This article is sourced from ch-aviation.com and curated by Thetransporteronline24)
