AirAsia boss said to plan unveiling order for 100 Airbuses

AirAsia, the region’s biggest discount airline, plans to unveil an order for 100 Airbus A320 jets on Thursday as the carrier expands operations to fend off rising competition, two people familiar with the contract said.

AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes is flying to an Airbus factory in Broughton, Wales, to announce the order, valued at about US$9 billion at list price, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public yet.

The airline is buying current-generation A320s as well as more fuel-efficient A320neos, and UK Prime Minister David Cameron is planning to attend the event, the people said.

AirAsia has expanded since Fernandes and partners bought it in 2001, and now it’s Airbus’s biggest customer for single-aisle aircraft worldwide. The airline ordered 200 Airbus A320neo aircraft valued at US$18 billion at the Paris Air Show in 2011.

The order was signed last month and announced by Airbus as an undisclosed customer, the people said.

“On my way to London,” Fernandes told followers in a message on Twitter on Wednesday. “Big announcement tomorrow.”