Kuala lumpur: AirAsia X Bhd is set to expand its fleet with the acquisition of smaller aircraft, featuring new engine options (NEO) and long-range (LR) models, as part of its strategy to bolster its presence in medium-haul markets. The airline’s chief executive officer, Benyamin Ismail, announced that the new aircraft are anticipated to be delivered in the second half of 2026.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the airline plans to take delivery of Airbus A321neo and A321LR aircraft, which will allow it to operate routes lasting between five and seven hours. Benyamin Ismail highlighted potential destinations under evaluation, including Busan in South Korea, Adelaide and Darwin in Australia, as well as smaller cities in China. This announcement was made during a familiarisation trip with the media on the airline’s inaugural flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The local carrier launched its first flight to Tashkent on October 15, 2025, offering three weekly services between Malaysia and Uzbekistan’s capital. Tashkent marks AirAsia X’s second destination in Central Asia after Almaty, Kazakhstan, which commenced on March 14, 2024.

Benyamin also emphasized the airline’s focus on increasing flight frequencies across existing destinations due to encouraging overall performance. He noted that in Australia, efforts are underway to offer more consistent schedules. Meanwhile, China has shown strong recovery, prompting the airline to restore capacity there. Demand for flights to Japan and South Korea remains robust as well.

The airline’s monthly and quarterly results reveal a healthy load factor averaging 84 percent, a significant improvement compared to the levels recorded during the COVID-19 period.