AirAsia interested in potential Airbus A321neo freighter

By Liz Lee

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Bhd is in talks with Airbus SE (OTC:) about its curiosity within the producer creating a brand new factory-built freighter model of the A321neo passenger aircraft, the pinnacle of its cargo arm stated on Wednesday.

AirAsia would search to transform a few of its 362 orders for the passenger model of the A321neo narrowbody to a devoted freighter, stated Pete Chareonwongsak, CEO of AirAsia cargo division Teleport.

“For lots of the markets that we have to attain each in vary but in addition in capability, it is an important product,” he instructed reporters of the potential freighter. “Would we be the launch buyer? I do not know. We’ll see.”

Airbus didn’t reply instantly to a request for remark.

Trade web site Leeham Information in August reported Airbus was in talks with clients a couple of new construct freighter model of the A321neo however no resolution has been introduced.

Airbus in July introduced plans for a freighter model of its A350 widebody jet, in a problem to Boeing (NYSE:) Co’s longstanding dominance of the marketplace for devoted cargo planes.

Within the narrowbody market, older variations of the A321 and 737 passenger planes are being transformed into freighters however there isn’t any new-build freighter aircraft on provide.

Teleport on Wednesday launched its first 737-800 freighter to be primarily based in Bangkok. It plans to develop the fleet to 6 planes by 2023, Teleport Chief Working Officer Adrian Loretz stated.

Teleport is in talks with traders to lift $50 million to $100 million by the top of the 12 months and would look to listing as a separate firm in three years, Chareonwongsak stated.