Airbus Updates No.4123

 

easyJet Plans Future Fleet With Agreement For 250+ More Airbus Narrowbodies

•  easyJet has placed a substantial order for 157 firm and 100 optioned Airbus jets, which will significantly expand its fleet and support its growth plans beyond 2028.
•  The airline's preference for the larger A321neo model reflects easyJet's focus on lower fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and operating costs per seat.
•  The order represents a long-term investment as deliveries are scheduled for 2029 to 2034, demonstrating easyJet's strong commitment to Airbus.
• British low-cost carrier easyJet has made waves this morning by announcing an order for as many as 257 brand-new Airbus A320neo family jets. The orange-clad airline has put its name down for 157 firm orders, which almost doubles its existing order book of 158 aircraft, as well as options for another 100 new narrowbodies
• A trading update published by the airline this morning shows that easyJet has gone large with its choice of aircraft in the order. Indeed, the Luton-headquartered carrier has ordered almost twice as many stretched-fuselage A321neos as it has for the standard A320neo model. The figures for these aircraft, in terms of new firm orders, are 101 and 56 respectively. 

• The order represents a long-term investment, as, given easyJet's existing order book with Airbus, deliveries for these newly-ordered next-generation twinjets aren't set to begin any time soon. Indeed, as the airline noted in its trading update, it plans for these aircraft to come onboard between its 2029 and 2034 full-years.

  The age of the A321neo

  This order shows that easyJet sees the larger Airbus A321neo model as being a particularly crucial part of its future fleet plans, but this is also clear elsewhere. Indeed, despite data from ch-aviation showing that easyJet currently only has 15 A321neos spread between easyJet UK and easyJet Switzerland,

• The prevalence of the larger A321neo in its latest order is a key reason behind the fact that the deliveries aren't set to begin until the end of the current decade. This is because, as easyJet notes, delivery slots for 200-seat narrowbodies are "very limited until at least 2029 from Airbus and Boeing." As such, securing them now as a long-term investment could prove to be a shrewd move later on.

  A commitment worth almost $20 billion

  All in all, easyJet's current order book with Airbus now stands at 315 aircraft, subject to shareholder approval for the latest order. With the option to add another 100 to this figure, the carrier is strongly committed to Airbus, which is also evident in a financial sense. The airline notes that, according to 2018's list prices, the latest order and conversion represent a total commitment of $19.9 billion.

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