An air swirler capable of liquid fuel atomization for a fuel fired burner in a furnace or boiler having a hollow guide pipe supporting several swirl blades at an end adjacent to the furnace. Openings connected by tunnels to the inside of the guide pipe are provided in the trailing edges of each swirl blade. A fuel pipe is concentric with the guide pipe forming an annular space therebetween. Gaseous substances such as oxygen or natural gas are provided through the annular space and liquid fuel is provided through the fuel pipe. The fuel and gaseous substances travel through the tunnels to the openings for liquid fuel atomization and pre-mixing at the burner throat to reduce NO.sub.x formation.