PHOTO: REUTERS[NEW YORK/HONG KONG] Low-cost South-east Asian carrier AirAsia is close to finalising an order for around 100 Airbus regional jets, according to sources familiar with the matter, as the airline looks to expand its operations. AirAsia is considering options that could push the total size of the commitment to 150 jets, the sources said. AirAsia, overseen by Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes, is pushing hard on expansion plans after scaling back operations and restructuring its finances during the Covid-19 pandemic. The A220 deal has been long in the making, with negotiations stretching back into the early part of last year. The model, which can seat between 100 and 160 passengers, is smaller than what AirAsia usually flies but would enable it to operate from smaller airports and in markets that have less demand for traditional single-aisle jets.