Airbus Updates No.738

Bhutan’s Drukair confirms order for Airbus A319 with Sharklets

World’s most efficient aircraft for high altitude airports

10 July 2012Press Release

Bhutan’s national airline Drukair has signed a firm order for an Airbus A319 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices to complement its existing fleet of two A319s. The order announced at the UK’s Farnborough International Airshow, follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February.

Landlocked and surrounded by a wall of the world’s tallest mountains, Bhutan is one of the world’s most pristine locations and one of the world’s most challenging destinations for air services. At over 7,000 feet above sea level, Drukair’s base at Paro airport is only possible using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for approach. This means the crew can only fly by vision, which requires a high performance and responsive aircraft.

“We are delighted to be ordering the Airbus A319 equipped with fuel saving Sharklets," said Dasho Sonam Tshering Drukair Chairman. "The addition of a third A319 will enable us to increase capacity and open up new direct routes and to welcome even more visitors to our landlocked country where aviation really is our gateway to the world. Its economic importance cannot be overestimated, “

The A319 with Sharklets will allow Drukair to expand services on existing routes and adding new ones to international tourist crossroads like Singapore and Hong Kong.

“The A319s unrivalled performance means it is the largest aircraft that operates from the most challenging airports where other comparable aircraft are unable to do so,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The A319s superior range and fuel efficiency equipped with ‘Sharklets’ will help Drukair to expand its market in the most greenest and most fuel efficient way.”

Sharklets have been specially designed for the Airbus A320 Family to reduce fuel burn by up to an additional 3.5 percent, corresponding to an annual reduction of around 700 tonnes of CO2per aircraft which is equivalent to the CO2 produced by around 200 cars annually. The wingtip devices also enhance the aircraft’s performance and range.

Over 8,500 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and over 5,100 delivered to 365 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family.

Airbus Updates No.671

Airbus wins 1st corporate jet sale in Japan

 

ACJ319 has widest and tallest cabin of any corporate jet

30 March 2012Press Release

 

Airbus has won its first corporate jet sale in Japan, adding a new customer and building on its widespread and growing presence in the important Asia-Pacific market.

The aircraft, an Airbus ACJ319, has the widest and tallest cabin of any corporate jet, while being similar in size externally to traditional business jets. It thus delivers unequalled comfort, space and freedom of movement, as well as the ability to carry more passengers.

“Our first Airbus corporate jet sale in Japan builds on the growing presence of our modern airliner family, as well as encouraging greater use of business jets to help grow what is, today, the world’s third-largest economy,” says Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, John Leahy. “Cabin comfort and space are key in our business, and Airbus corporate jets offer more of these than any other business jet,” he adds.

Corporate jets are widespread in many of the world’s economies, but are still proportionately few in some of the largest, such as Japan, where the opening of the first dedicated business terminal in Tokyo, Premier Gate Narita, will help to pave the way for more of them.

They are primarily used as business tools, helping company executives, billionaires and government leaders to accomplish more with their time, and to be more productive while travelling.

Airbus corporate jets already have a strong presence in Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, and are widely used by companies, high net-worth individuals, and governments.

Like the modern airliner family from which they are derived, Airbus corporate jets make extensive use of innovation and modern technology to deliver worthwhile benefits, plus the robust reliability that their heritage brings, as well as worldwide support.

Airbus corporate jets are derived from the world’s most modern aircraft family, and offer the broadest range of sizes and ranges of any bizjet manufacturer, including VIP widebodies.

They have won some 170 orders since Airbus delivered its first corporate jet in the mid-Eighties, and are the only bizjets flying on every continent, including Antarctica.

Airbus Updates No.629

Bhutan’s Drukair orders an Airbus A319 with Sharklets

 

Most efficient jet aircraft for high altitude airport operations

Drukair, the flag carrier of landlocked Eastern Himalayan mountain Kingdom of Bhutan, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an Airbus A319 aircraft fitted w ith fuel saving Sharklets to complement its existing fleet of two A319s. 

Surrounded by a tall wall of mountains and located at an altitude of over 7,000 feet, Drukair operates out of one of the world’s most challenging airports at Paro, where approach is by Visual Flight Rules (VFR) only. This means the crew can only fly by vision, which requires a high performance and responsive aircraft. The A319 is the largest aircraft operating out of Paro.

“For any landlocked country, aviation is the gateway to the world and its economic importance cannot be overestimated,” said Dasho Sonam Tshering Drukair Chairman. “The Airbus A319 is the largest aircraft flying to Bhutan, and it has allowed us to welcome even more visitors in comfort and style.”

Drukair will deploy the new aircraft to increase capacity on existing regional routes as well as to open up new services to Singapore and Hong Kong.

“The A319 offers unmatched performance helping it to be operated from the world’s most challenging airports where other comparable aircraft are unable to,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The added range and fuel efficiency of the A319 equipped with ‘Sharklets’ will help Drukair to expand to new markets and doing so in the most fuel efficient way possible.” 

Sharklets have been specially designed for the Airbus A320 Family to reduce fuel burn by up to an additional 3.5 percent, corresponding to an annual CO2 reduction of around 700 tonnes per aircraft. This reduction is equivalent to the CO2 produced by around 200 cars annually. The wingtip devices will also enhance the aircraft’s performance. 

Over 8,300 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and some 5,000 delivered to more than 350 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family.

Airbus Updates No.619

Air Namibia expands fleet with order for two A319s

 

Airbus eco-efficient aircraft to replace 737-500s

6 February 2012 Press Release

Air Namibia, the Windhoek based national airline of the Republic of Namibia, has ordered two new Airbus A319 aircraft.  Seating 112 passengers in a two class layout, the aircraft will bring new levels of comfort to regional routes from Windhoek to other major African cities. 

Air Namibia already operates two leased A319s on regional routes, and two A340-300 aircraft on its international route between Windhoek to Frankfurt, Germany.   Airbus aircraft share a unique cockpit and operational commonality, allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crew and maintenance engineers, bringing operational flexibility and resulting in significant cost savings.

“Our in-service experience with Airbus aircraft has confirmed that the A319 is the ideal aircraft for Air Namibia’s regional routes,” said Theo M. Namases, Acting CEO of Air Namibia.  “The efficiency of our new aircraft, together with their commonality with our existing fleet will provide a strong basis for our continued growth and contribution to the Namibian tourist industry.”

“We are delighted to welcome Air Namibia as a new customer for the A320 family,” said John Leahy Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Air Namibia’s decision to invest in new A319s is a great endorsement for the efficiency of the aircraft and Airbus’ family concept.”

The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Each aircraft features fly by wire controls and all share a unique cockpit and operational commonality across the range. More than 8,300 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and almost 5000 delivered to more than 340 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft.