Airbus Updates No.1168

Delta Places Order for 15 A321ceo aircraft

Efficient aircraft will replace retiring jets

2 JUNE 2014 PRESS RELEASE

Delta will grow its A320 Family with an order for 15 A321ceo (current engine option) aircraft to offset jet retirements. The airline has selected CFM56-5B engines from CFM International to power the newly ordered A321ceo aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery starting in 2018. CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE.

Delta currently operates a large fleet of Airbus aircraft, including 126 A320 Family aircraft and 32 A330s. The order announced today brings Delta’s backlog to 45 single-aisle Airbus A321 and 10 widebody Airbus A330 aircraft. 

“The A321’s economic efficiency and product offering relative to the aircraft they will replace ensures that this opportunistic transaction will enhance profitability, customer satisfaction, and shareholder value for Delta,” said Nathaniel Pieper, Delta’s Vice President – Fleet Strategy and Transactions.

“Airbus is excited to offer Delta comfortable and efficient aircraft that fit its demanding financial and customer satisfaction goals,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “It is clear that the quality, comfort and economy of the aircraft were the right fit."

All of Delta’s A321s will feature fuel-saving Sharklets – lightweight composite wingtip devices that offer 4 percent fuel-burn savings. This environmental benefit gives the airline the option of extending its range up to 100 nautical miles/185 kilometers or increasing payload capacity by some 1000 pounds/450 kilograms.

Many of Delta’s A321s will be delivered from Airbus’ brand-new A320 Family assembly line, currently under construction in Mobile, Alabama. Hiring is underway at the facility, and aircraft assembly will begin there next year. By 2017, the Mobile facility is expected to produce four aircraft per month.

Airbus Updates No.1104

Delta Air Lines returns to Airbus with order for 40 aircraft

Deal includes A330s and the first-ever A321s for the airline

4 SEPTEMBER 2013 PRESS RELEASE

Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A321ceo (current engine option) and 10 A330-300 aircraft. This order marks a strong return to Airbus since Delta’s last order some two decades ago. The airline has selected CFM56-5B engines from CFM International to power its A321s and CF6-80E1 engines from GE Aviation for its new A330s. Deliveries of Delta’s new A330s are slated to begin in 2015, and its first A321 is scheduled for 2016 delivery.

As a result of the merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines, Delta currently operates a large Airbus fleet, including 126 A320 Family aircraft, plus 32 A330s.

“We are always gratified by a significant order from a current operator, as it is the best endorsement of the value and dependability of the Airbus product line,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “We have longstanding partnerships with the Delta team. Nonetheless, this is the first-ever Delta order for our modern family of comfortable and efficient A320 and A330 aircraft. We look forward to seeing the growth of the Airbus fleet at Delta meet and exceed the needs of the airline’s customers and employees for many years to come.”

"Delta is excited to select Airbus to partner with us as we continue our fleet renewal," said Ed Bastian, Delta's President. "These A330 and A321 aircraft offer a combination of economic efficiency and excellent customer satisfaction, which we experience with the 158 Airbus aircraft currently in our fleet."

All of Delta’s A321s will feature Sharklets – lightweight composite wingtip devices that offer up to 4 percent fuel-burn savings, providing the flexibility of either adding 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of nearly 1000 pounds (up to 450 kilograms).

Many of Delta’s A321s are expected to be assembled at the brand-new Airbus assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, currently under construction and scheduled to deliver its first aircraft in 2016. The facility represents a $600 million dollar investment in the Gulf Coast region, and will provide 1,000 new jobs in that community.

Delta’s A321s will seat 190 people in two classes. The A321 is the largest member of the A320 Family – the world’s best-selling and most modern single-aisle aircraft Family. To date, over 9,800 A320 family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,600 delivered to nearly 390 customers and operators. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft.

Delta has selected the 242-metric-ton version of the A330-300 to grow its widebody fleet. This new enhancement to the aircraft type benefits from up to 500 nautical miles of extra range, with the ability to carry nearly five metric tons more payload than the previous 235-metric-ton A330-300. About 1.2 billion passengers around the world have enjoyed travelling on board the light, bright and spacious A330 cabin to and from the 300 airports it serves today. Delta’s A330-300s will seat 293 passengers in two classes. More than 1,250 A330s have been ordered to date.

Airbus Updates No.842

TransAsia Airways orders six additional A321neo

 

Second NEO order for the Taiwanese company

 

8 November 2012Press Release

 

TransAsia Airways of Taiwan has placed a firm order with Airbus for another six A321neo aircraft. The new aircraft will be part of the airline’s fleet expansion and will allow it to develop new routes to regional destinations. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt and Whitney PW1100G engines.

The latest contract takes TransAsia Airways’ total orders for Airbus single aisle aircraft to 29, of which 11 have already been delivered. The carrier’s single aisle backlog now comprises 12 A321neo and six Sharklet-equipped A321ceo. In addition, the airline also has two widebody A330-300s on order, with first delivery scheduled later this year.

“The A321neo is a perfect fit for our strategy to grow efficiently in both domestic and regional markets and is the ideal solution to our fleet needs” said Vincent Lin, Chairman of TransAsia Airways. “With its wide cabin and outstanding fuel performance, the A321neo will bring new levels of comfort to our passengers whilst minimising our environmental footprint.”

“With the latest versions of the A321 TransAsia Airways will be operating the most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft in the 185-200 seat category,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The combination of low fuel burn and extended flying range from Taipei will position the airline well to meet its expansion plans across the fast-growing Asian market.”

The A321neo is the largest model in the recently launched A320neo Family. Incorporating new engines and large "Sharklet" wing tip devices, the A320neo Family will deliver fuel savings of 15 percent. The reduction in fuel burn is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel - the consumption of 1,000 mid size cars, saving 3,600 tonnes of C02 per aircraft per year. In addition, the A320neo Family will provide a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.

With more than 8,600 aircraft ordered and over 5,200 aircraft delivered to over 374 customers and operators worldwide, the A320 Family is the world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft family.

Airbus Updates No.834

Etihad Airways orders two more A330 passenger aircraft

Another vote of confidence for efficient, reliable A330

30 October 2012Press Release

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has signed a firm order for two additional A330-200 passenger aircraft as part of the carrier’s continued growth plans.

These newly ordered aircraft, like Etihad’s current A330 fleet, will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. Etihad Airways has also converted seven of its previously ordered A320s to the larger and increasingly popular A321 model.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan said: “The reliable and highly versatile Airbus A330-200 has been an integral part of our global passenger and cargo success. As our operations and network continue to grow in scale, we feel the A330-200 is the right fleet type to expand with. Our decision to convert seven of our A320s on order into A321s reflects the increasingly strong demand we are seeing across our different routes and we look forward to taking delivery of our first in November 2013.”

“Winning a fifth repeat order from Etihad for A330s is without a doubt a strong endorsement for the aircraft’s unique combination of unbeatable economics, versatility and fuel efficiency,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “In response to the continuing strong demand, we’re making the A330 better and better, with for example new higher weight variants which offer our customers more payload-range capability with the same high operational reliability.”

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military 

Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,200 orders and around 900 aircraft are flying with over 90 operators worldwide. Ever since the original version of the A330-300 entered service, the hallmark has been its very efficient operating economics and benchmark reliability above 99 percent.

Airbus Updates No.783

Philippine Airlines places major order for Airbus aircraft

Airline selects A321 and A330 under fleet renewal programme

28 August 2012

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has placed a firm order with Airbus covering 34 A321ceo, 10 A321neo and 10 A330-300s. The aircraft are being purchased under a major fleet modernisation programme at the airline, with deliveries starting in 2013.

The single aisle A321 aircraft are being purchased to enhance the airline’s product offerings on domestic and regional routes, as well as to support alliances with its partner airlines. The widebody A330s will be operated on higher demand regional routes and longer range services to the Middle East and Australia. PAL will announce engine selections for all the aircraft at a later date.

“The orders we are placing with Airbus will play a key role in revitalising PAL and growing trade and tourism in the country, said PAL Chairman Lucio Tan and PAL President Ramon S. Ang. “With these aircraft we will be able to offer more passengers the best the industry has to offer across our Asia-Pacific network. At the same time, we will benefit from the low operating costs associated with new generation aircraft and the reduced impact on the environment.”

“We are extremely pleased that Philippine Airlines has placed its confidence in our aircraft to meet its future requirements,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “This announcement demonstrates once again the popularity of both the A320 Family and the A330, which remain the leaders in their size categories in terms of operating economics, reliability and passenger comfort.”

The A321 is the largest member of the best-selling A320 Family, which offers the lowest operating costs of any single aisle product line today. These costs will be reduced even further with the arrival of the new engine option (NEO), offering additional fuel savings of 15 per cent. To date, over 8,500 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,200 delivered to 365 customers and operators worldwide.

The A330 is one of the most widely-used widebody aircraft in service today. Airbus has recorded over 1,200 orders for the various versions of the aircraft, with some 900 now flying with 90 operators worldwide. In addition to passenger and freighter aircraft, the A330 is also available in VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

Airbus Updates No.742

UTair orders 20 A321s

Russian carrier becomes new Airbus customer

12 July 2012Press Release

‪UTair, one of Russia’s leading carriers, has signed a firm contract with Airbus for 20 A321 aircraft during the Farnborough Air Show. This is the largest order for the type received from a carrier in the region and the first time that UTair has ordered Airbus aircraft.

UTair’s A321s will feature a spacious single-class cabin layout seating 220 passengers. The airline is planning to operate these new aircraft to further develop its charter network of popular leisure destinations.

‪”Today’s signature of the contract on the delivery of new A321s demonstrates our firm intentions to continue to grow and strengthen our positions among leading Russian carriers. The chosen A321 aircraft fully meets the requirements of our fleet modernization programme, aimed at providing reliable operations, improving the level of service and developing the network”, remarked Andrey Martirosov, UTair CEO. 

‪"We are delighted to welcome UTair as a new Airbus customer in Russia and the latest for the A320 Family," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "This best-selling single-aisle aircraft offers not only superb technology but also unbeatable economics, which will contribute to the airline’s continued growth and fleet expansion. We look forward to a long-term partnership with UTair", he added.

UTair airline, one of the most dynamic Russian carriers from the top three, was founded in 1967. The airline is operating a fleet of some 200 aircraft to over 60 domestic and some 40 international destinations.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. As of today, more than 8,500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold to 365 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best selling commercial jetliner ever. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft.