Jet2 Increases Airbus Order With 35 New A320neo Family Aircraft
British low-cost and leisure airline Jet2 has further consolidated its relationship with Airbus by announcing another order for the A320neo family of jets. The airline is confident of a significant resurgence of leisure travel demand, for which it wants to be prepared by including fuel-efficient modern narrowbody planes.
35 A320neos
Jet2 has announced that it will again add to its existing order with Airbus by ordering 35 new A320neo aircraft. The Leeds-based carrier has been steadily increasing its bond with the European planemaker and has upped its order multiple times since last year. Its total commitment to the A320neo family now stands at 98 airplanes.
The latest addition of 35 planes will cost Jet2 $3.9 billion at list prices, with an option to extend this to 71 aircraft. The company will exercise flexibility in choosing its method of financing the aircraft and will likely go for a combination of internal resources and debt.
The order suggests that Jet2 is hopeful for a significant recovery in leisure travel, enough to warrant a further increase in orders. Its Executive Chairman Philip Meeson commented,
“We are delighted to build on our existing relationship with Airbus and to have placed this additional aircraft order which provides the Company with certainty of supply well into the next decade.
“The order reflects our confidence that we have a much-loved product built on sector leading Customer Service which we can continue to grow and these aircraft will ensure our Customers have a wonderfully comfortable and enjoyable experience as they travel with us for their well-deserved Real Package Holidays from Jet2holidays® or scheduled holiday flights with Jet2.com.”
Gradual increase
Within a short span, Jet2 has shown a ravenous appetite for the A320neo family of planes. Just a year ago, the airline made history by placing its first-ever order with Airbus for 36 A321neos.
But that was just the beginning. Several other additions were made to the order, including 15 more A321neos shortly after the first order and six more of the type earlier this year.
For the latest order, Airbus has confirmed that the A320neos will be configured for 180 seats with an Airspace cabin featuring innovative lighting, new seating products, and 60% larger overhead baggage bins for added personal storage.
Changing fleet
Jet2 changed its course significantly by distancing itself from Boeing last year with its first-ever Airbus order. The airline’s fleet has been dominated by Boeing’s narrowbody planes, notably the 737s and a few 757s.
Having operated non-fly-by-wire aircraft for years, Jet2 decided to give the Airbus narrowbodies a try by leasing some A321s and was happy with their performance.
