Toulouse, France - The Atlantic carrier Air Greenland has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the acquisition of one A330-800, making the airline third known customer of the Airbus' slow-selling widebody jet.
The airline is expected to receive its A330-800 next year. The aircraft will enter into service between Kangerlussuaq Airport in Greenland and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Air Greenland currently has one Airbus A330-200 and several turboprop aircraft in its fleet.
With this order, Air Greenland aims to increase tourism in the Atlantic's remote territory and accelerate the growth of the country's only airline.
Greenland has an unfulfilled business potential regarding tourism, which can create both development and jobs. Combined with new runways in Nuuk and Ilulissat, we will unlock Greenland in a whole new way that will increase tourism and create growth,
said company Chairman Kjeld Zacho Jørgensen, who expects double-digit growth in tourism when the new aircraft joins the carrier's fleet.
With the arrival of its Airbus A330-800, Air Greenland will also launch another direct route to Ilulissat in the Disko Bay from Copenhagen, which is one of the most popular and sought destinations among tourists.
Air Greenland is the third identified operator of the smaller variant of the A330neo family, after Kuwait Airways (eight copies) and Uganda Airlines (two copies).
Last month, the European planemaker Airbus registered an order for four A330-800 from an anonymous customer.
The A330-800 doesn’t have any cost advantage over the A330-900 other than the fuel cost. It consumes less fuel than the larger A330-900. With today’s fuel prices, it doesn't make a remarkable difference.
The A330-900 accommodates 50 more passengers and has a better residual value. The A330-800 seems to have fallen into the trap of a non-loved variant.
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