First Customer In Russia & CIS For Eco-Efficient A320neo Transaero Airlines, Russia’s second largest airline, has signed a firm order for eight A320neo aircraft following a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2011 in Moscow. The A320neo (new engine option) is an efficiency improvement package offering up to 15 percent fuel savings on the A320 Family.

Transaero Airlines is planning to operate the aircraft on its extended medium-haul network of domestic and international routes as part of its expansion strategy and fleet renewal programme. The engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date.
Olga Pleshakova, Transaero Airlines CEO, said, “This order for the A320neo confirms Transaero’s ambition to become the first operator of this aircraft type in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. These newest aircraft will enable us to offer maximum comfort to our passengers, while their high fuel efficiency will help us make air transportation affordable for wider audience. “

“Transaero is an exceptionally forward looking and pioneering airline in Russia and we are delighted to play such a significant role in the company’s future strategy.” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “In a fiercely competitive market this is a great endorsement for our eco-efficient, passenger pleasing A320neo aircraft.”

Over 8,100 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and more than 4,800 delivered to more than 340 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality with the current A320, making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.

The A320neo is a new engine option for the A320 Family entering into service from 2015 and incorporates latest generation engines and large “Sharklet” wing tip devices, which together will deliver 15 percent in fuel savings. This reduction in fuel burn is equivalent to 1.4m litres of fuel – the consumption of 1,000 mid size cars. This saves 3,600 metric tonnes of C02 per aircraft per year, the amount absorbed by 240,000 mature trees. The A320neo NOx emissions are 50% below CAEP/6 and this aircraft also has a considerably smaller noise footprint.

Incremental Orders To Be Placed For A380, A330 and A320 Families

September 29, 2011 — Lufthansa’s Supervisory Board has approved the purchase of additional Airbus aircraft. The aircraft comprise two A380s, four A320s and one A330-300. These additional orders reflect the strong demand across Lufthansa’s network for an efficient family of aircraft.

Nico Buchholz, Executive Vice President Lufthansa Group Fleet Management said: “I am delighted that this additional order will enable us to secure the development of our short, medium and long-haul fleets. It is the next logical step in our strategy of ongoing fleet modernisation with regard to fuel efficiency, operating costs, noise and emissions.”

“We are pleased that Lufthansa is coming back to order more Airbus aircraft across our product families,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. He adds: “In particular, the order for two additional A380s is a testimony to the outstanding performance, efficiency and passenger appeal which the type has already proven in service with the airline.”

Today the Lufthansa Group is the biggest Airbus operator worldwide with more than 368 Airbus aircraft currently in service. These include: 258 A320 Family; 37 A330s; 65 A340s; and eight A380s. With this latest order for seven aircraft, the Lufthansa Group has an order backlog which includes 85 A320 Family aircraft, nine A330s, and nine A380s.

Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer offering the most modern and eco-efficient aircraft families. Spanning 100 to 220 seats for our ‘Single-Aisle’ A320 family, 220 to 400 seats for ‘Long-Range’ (A330/A340/A350), to over 500 seats for the A380, all feature similar flight decks and handling characteristics. This commonality across the Airbus product line enables the multi-qualification of pilots and reduced pilot training times, while bringing significant cost savings through streamlined operational procedures.

American Airlines’ Milestone A320 Family ORder Marks A Key Win In The U.S. Market, Where Airbus’ Single-Aisle Jetliners Already Have Established Themselves As Workhorse Aircraft In Daily Service On Short- And Medium-Haul Routes.

July 20, 2011 — With this new firm contract – covering 260 A319s, A320s and A321s – American Airlines will become one of the world’s largest operators of the A320 Family, with half of these aircraft being the New Engine Option (neo) versions.

American Airlines joins other U.S.-based carriers and leasing companies that have ordered and/or operate some 2,400 A320 Family jetliners, including Air Lease Corporation, Aviation Capital Group, CIT, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, GECAS, ILFC, jetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.

Many of these customers have acquired more than one version from the A318, A319 A320 and A321 product line, taking advantage of the high commonality and interoperability offered only by Airbus’ fly-by-wire aircraft family.

The U.S. also is a market for Airbus widebody aircraft, where the A330, A340 and A350 XWB have been ordered by airlines and leasing companies.

Not only are these jetliners carrying millions of passengers on flights operated by U.S. airlines, the production of such aircraft for Airbus’ worldwide customer base provides a major – and expanding – source of business for suppliers across the country. Airbus is the U.S. aerospace industry’s no. 1 export customer, with several hundred suppliers in more than 40 states providing goods and services that range from fasteners to engines and complete fuselage sections – supporting more than 180,000 jobs.

As Airbus’ order book expands and its jetliner production rates rise, U.S. industry is benefiting from this increased activity. Airbus has spent approximately $100 billion in procurement with U.S. industry from 1990 through now.

The opportunities for current and future suppliers will grow significantly as the Airbus sourcing volume for U.S. companies is expected to increase from 2010 to 2020, driven by the ramp-up in its jetliner production rates and the introduction of new aircraft versions.

Underscores continued popularity of the best-selling mid-size widebody

JUNE 29, 2011 — Singapore Airlines (SIA) has finalised an agreement with Airbus to expand its fleet with 15 more A330-300s. The aircraft will join an existing fleet of 19 A330-300s at the carrier, flying from Singapore to destinations across the Asia-Pacific region and to the Middle East. As with the carrier’s existing A330 fleet, the new aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

“We are extremely pleased that Singapore Airlines will add further A330s to its fleet,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “The news underscores the position of the A330 as the most popular aircraft in its class, offering levels of comfort, efficiency and reliability that continue to make it a winner with airlines worldwide.”

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the various versions of the aircraft and more than 750 A330s are currently flying with over 80 airlines worldwide. In addition to passenger and freighter models, the A330 is also offered in VIP and Military Transport/Tanker variants.

Benchmark order for single aircraft

June 22, 2011 — India’s largest low-cost carrier, IndiGo has firmed up its historic order for 180 airbus single aisle aircraft. The firming up of the order for 150 A320neo and 30 A320 follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier in January.

The order makes IndiGo one of the A320neo launch customers. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date. Today’s order for 180 aircraft is on top of a firm order for 100 A320s placed June 2005. Out of the 2005 order, 44 aircraft have already been delivered.

“Our order with Airbus will further establish IndiGo as a leading carrier in the Indian market, and one that continues to offer low fares and high service. Our existing order for 100 A320s and the order announced today will help meet India’s growing flying market, in the most cost efficient and environmentally responsible way possible,” said Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo’s President.

“This record order for our A320neo will enable IndiGo to achieve the maximum benefit from India’s projected strong passenger traffic growth over the coming years. Today’s agreement is clear endorsement of our A320neo and we thank Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia for their confidence and commitment to Airbus,” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.

Over 7,000 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and more than 4,700 delivered to more than 330 customers and operators worldwide. The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload.

The A320neo, available from 2015, incorporates new more efficient engines and large wing tip devices called “Sharklets” delivering significant fuel savings of 15 percent, which is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel per aircraft per year, or the consumption of 1,000 mid sized cars. This saves 3,600 tonnes of CO2 annually per aircraft. In addition, the A320neo provides a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.

Another Endorsement From Asia For Latest Versions Of Best-Selling A320 Family

June 21, 2011 — TransAsia Airways of Taiwan announced today that it has placed a firm order with Airbus for six A321neo aircraft. The new aircraft will enable the airline to respond to strong growth on regional services, especially on direct routes between Taiwan and mainland China. TransAsia will announce an engine selection for the new aircraft in the near future.

TransAsia Airways currently operates five A321s and two A320s on domestic and regional services. In addition to the order announced today, the airline already has six sharklet-fitted A321s on order for future delivery.

“With 18 years of successful operations with the A320 Family we have benefited from the low operating costs and exceptional reliability offered by the Airbus single aisle product line,” explained Vincent Lin, Chairman, of TransAsia Airways. “The A321neo will fit seamlessly into our existing fleet from an operational viewpoint, bringing new levels of fuel efficiency and having less impact on our environment.”

“This order from TransAsia represents another vote of confidence from the Asian region in the latest versions of the best-selling A320 Family,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “No other aircraft in the 185-220 seat category will come close to the levels of efficiency offered by the A321neo, which will fly further at significantly less cost than the latest version of its direct competitor.”

The A321neo is the largest model in the recently launched A320neo series. Incorporating new engines and large wing tip devices called sharklets, the A320neo series will deliver fuel savings of 15 percent and additional range capability of 500 nautical miles (950 kilometers), or the ability to carry two tonnes more payload at a given range. For the environment, the fuel savings translate into some 3,600 tonnes less CO2 per aircraft per year. In addition, the A320neo will provide a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Over 7,000 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and more than 4,700 delivered to more than 330 customers and operators worldwide. The A320neo series will have over 95% airframe commonality with the existing models, enabling it to fit easily into existing A320 Family fleets.

The new engines types offered on the A320neo Family are CFM International’s LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G.

Aircraft To Be Operated By Low Cost Unit Citilink

June 21, 2011 — Garuda Indonesia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for the purchase of 25 A320 Family aircraft, making the airline a new customer for the Airbus single aisle product line. The MOU covers 15 standard A320s followed by 10 A320neo aircraft for operation by the carrier’s domestic low cost unit Citilink, replacing its existing 737 fleet.

“The A320 will be a new addition to the Garuda family and has been selected after a very thorough and lengthy evaluation process,” said Emirsyah Satar, President & CEO Garuda Indonesia. “The combination of comfort for passengers, proven reliability for high frequency services and low operating costs made the A320 the clear favourite to enable Citilink to develop its full potential in the competitive low cost market.”

“This announcement marks a new milestone in our long relationship with Garuda Indonesia,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “The A320 will enable Citilink to develop profitably its share of the fast-growing Indonesian market, benefitting from the lowest operating costs available today – which are about to get even lower with the arrival of the A320neo.”

Incorporating new engines and large wing tip devices called sharklets, the A320 neo will deliver fuel savings of 15 percent and additional range capability of 500 nautical miles (950 kilometers), or the ability to carry two tonnes more payload at a given range. For the environment, the fuel savings translate into some 3,600 tonnes less CO2 per aircraft per year. In addition, the A320neo will provide a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Over 7,000 A320 Family aircraft have already been ordered and more than 4,700 delivered to more than 330 customers and operators worldwide. The A320neo will have over 95% airframe commonality with the existing models, enabling it to fit seamlessly into existing A320 Family fleets. The new engines types offered on the A320neo are CFM International’s LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G.

Eco-Efficient A330 Family Remains The Popular Choice

May 3, 2011 — Korean Air has placed a firm order with Airbus for five A330-200s.The latest purchase agreement increases the total numbers of A330s ordered by Korean Air to 30 aircraft, of which 23 have already been delivered. As with the existing Korean Air A330 fleet, the newly ordered aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW 4000 engines.

“Korean Air’s latest order underscores the ongoing success of the A330 with leading airlines worldwide,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus. “Combining the highest levels of reliability, outstanding medium and long range capabilities and the lowest operating costs in its class, the A330 is proving time and time again that it is the most efficient aircraft in service today in the mid-size widebody category.”

With a true wide-body fuselage creating very high comfort standards, the A330-200 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit diverse customer requirements. It also has the excellent operational flexibility necessary to serve a wide range of route structures, providing operators with very low operating cost per seat.

Airbus has recorded over 1,100 orders for the A330 Family, with more than 750 aircraft currently flying with more than 90 operators worldwide. In addition to passenger aircraft, the A330 Family also includes freighter, VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

World’s Most Popular Mid-Size Widebody Stays High In Demand

HONG KONG, March 9, 2011 — Cathay Pacific Airways has placed a firm order with Airbus for 15 more A330-300s. Scheduled for delivery from 2013, the aircraft will join the airline’s existing A330 fleet flying on services across the Asia-Pacific region. As with the airline’s existing A330 fleet, the newly ordered aircraft will be powered by Trent 700 engines from Rolls-Royce.

“The A330 has proved itself to be an extremely efficient and versatile aircraft for Cathay Pacific, flying on Asian regional services and longer operations to the Middle East and Australia,” said Tony Tyler, Chief Executive, Cathay Pacific Airways. “Our latest order reflects our confidence that the A330 will continue to meet our needs well into the future, both economically and operationally, as a key part of our fleet.”
“The latest order from Cathay Pacific underscores the position of the A330 as the most popular mid-size widebody flying today,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer – Customers, Airbus. “The proven reliability, low operating costs and strong passenger appeal offered by the A330 will ensure that it remains the most efficient aircraft in its class for many years to come.”

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. Some 750 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with 90 operators worldwide in 50 countries.

International Airlines Group (IAG) Selects Most Eco-Efficient Mid-Size Aircraft Family

March 7, 2011 —Iberia, part of IAG, has become the latest customer of Airbus’ eco-efficient A330 Family signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the acquisition of eight aircraft. The A330 selected will be the only twin engine, wide body aircraft in Iberia’s fleet and because of Airbus commonality it will fit seamlessly into its existing Airbus fleet. The engine selection will be made at a later date.
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Iberia and British Airways merged in January 2011 and formed International Airlines Group (IAG), an Anglo-Spanish airline holding company, one of the largest in the world by revenues.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said: “The A330 is an excellent aircraft, both in terms of comfort and operational performance, and it will be a welcome addition to Iberia’s fleet. It also provides us with considerable cost benefits due to its lower fuel consumption and commonality with Iberia’s existing long haul aircraft”.

‪‪“We are very proud that IAG has selected the A330 Family in its very first purchase” said John Leahy, Airbus COO, Customers. “Iberia’s selection proves again that the A330 Family is the preferred choice among operators for an eco-efficient, mid-size, long-haul aircraft thanks to its low operating costs and outstanding comfort for passengers”.
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‪The A330-300 has a range of up to 5,600 nm / 10,400 km with a typical 300 passenger load. Highly efficient and optimised for the medium–to long range market, the A330-300 offers the best balance between range and cost. The A330-300 remains the most economic means of flying around 300 passengers on medium range routes in true long haul comfort.

‪The A330 Family, which spans 200 to 400 seats for the passenger variants, also includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,100 orders.

Further Endorsement For Efficient, Reliable, Profitable Airbus Aircraft Family

March 8, 2011 — Turkish Airlines has signed a firm order for the purchase of ten Airbus A321s and three A330-200F freighter aircraft to meet their growth plans in the passenger and cargo markets. The airline has a further 27 aircraft on order with Airbus from contracts placed in 2009 and 2010.

The new aircraft will join Turkish Airlines’ existing fleet of 75 Airbus aircraft, including four A310 freighters, 50 A320 Family aircraft, 11 A330s, one A330-200F and nine A340s.

“To achieve our ambitious expansion plans in a sustainable and profitable manner, we require a reliable and efficient fleet,” said Dr Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines. “Our positive experience with our in service A320 fleet and the outstanding flexibility and efficiency demonstrated by our A330-200F since it entered service last year made these repeat orders the logical choice for our growth.”

“Airbus offers the most modern and eco-efficient aircraft available on the market, and our unique operational commonality allows our customers to achieve maximum productivity from their fleets,” said John Leahy Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “We are delighted that Turkish Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Europe, has again chosen Airbus as a partner for their growth.”

Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus aircraft share a unique cockpit and operational commonality, allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, bringing operational flexibility and resulting in significant cost savings.

Airbus has sold over 10,000 aircraft and delivered over 6,500 since its first airliner entered service in 1974. Airbus aircraft are in service with more than 430 customers and operators around the world.

Strong Endorsement For The Industry’s Benchmark Eco-Efficient Single-Aisle Aircraft

March 8, 2011 — The world’s premier aircraft leasing company, ILFC, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 100 A320neo Family aircraft, comprising 75 A320neo and 25 A321neo types. ILFC becomes the first customer for the A321neo, the largest member of the A320neo Family. In a separate agreement, Pratt & Whitney has been selected by ILFC to power at least 60 A320neo Family aircraft.

The A320neo incorporates new more efficient engines and large wing tip devices called, “Sharklets” which together deliver up to 15 percent in fuel savings. This represents some 3,600 tonnes less CO2 per aircraft, per year. In addition, the A320neo provides a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise.

In parallel with this order for the A320neo, ILFC will terminate its purchase agreement for ten A380s. “With 104 wide bodies on order and fewer than a dozen single aisles it makes perfect sense to rebalance our order book and position ILFC strategically on the fuel-efficient neo ,” said Henri Courpron, ILFC Chief Executive Officer.

“We are delighted to welcome ILFC as the first lessor to order the A320neo,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “As an evolution of the highly successful A320, offering the latest in fuel saving technologies, the A320neo is a natural choice for ILFC. Indeed the A320 Family will continue to be a great asset for both lessors and airlines for the decades to come.”

“The A380 is a long term programme. Over the next twenty years we see a market of over 1,300 passenger aircraft in the very large aircraft segment. The A380 continues to win new customers and many are coming back with repeat orders.” Mr. Leahy added. “This year we’ve already won two new A380 customers and there are more queuing up.”

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Almost 7,000 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and over 4,500 delivered to more than 320 customers and operators worldwide. The A320neo will have over 95 percent airframe commonality with the existing models making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload. Engines offered on the A320neo are CFM International’s LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G.

Brazilian Airline Orders 22 A320neo And 10 A320 Family Aircraft

February 28, 2011 —TAM Airlines, Brazil’s largest airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 32 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft, comprising 22 A320neo and 10 A320 Family aircraft. The order makes TAM the launch customer for the A320neo in Latin America. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date.

The A320neo, available from 2016, incorporates new more efficient engines and large wing tip devices called Sharklets, which together, deliver significant fuel savings of up to 15 percent, representing up to 3,600 tonnes CO2 annually per aircraft. In addition, the A320neo provides a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and significantly reduced engine noise.

“Our order for industry leading fuel efficient aircraft opens a world of possibilities for TAM, thanks to its substantially increased range capability,” said Líbano Barroso, CEO of TAM Airlines. “Ordering more A320s allows TAM to reduce costs and further improve our environmental performance.”

“The A320neo will fit neatly into TAM Airlines’ fleet, offering maximum benefit for minimum change,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “This enables TAM to take full advantage of Brazil’s expected growth in air travel, especially in light of the upcoming World Cup and Olympic Games, and to do so in the most eco-efficient way possible”.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Some 7,000 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and over 4,500 delivered to more than 320 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With 99.7% reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. The A320neo has over 95% airframe commonality with the A320 Family whilst offering up to 500nm (950 km) more range or two tonnes more payload.

Airbus fleet operating in Latin America has doubled in the last five years. With more 550 aircraft sold and a record backlog of more than 250 aircraft to be delivered to its Latin American customers, today nearly 370 Airbus aircraft are flying with 21 Latin American airlines. This represents more than 60 percent of the fleet delivered in the region.

Seamless fit into their existing Airbus fleet

February 8, 2011 — South African Airways has become the latest operator of Airbus’ eco-efficient A330 family. The A330-200 is the first of six to be delivered to Aircastle Limited during 2011, all of which will be leased to South African Airways.

Seating 36 passengers in business class and 186 in economy, the aircraft will feature the latest in-flight entertainment and will be used primarily on long haul routes from the airline’s bases in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The new A330 will join South African Airlines existing Airbus fleet of 11 A319s, 14 A340-200/300s and 9 A340-600s enabling the airline to reap the benefits of Airbus’ unique cockpit and operational commonality. This allows airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, resulting in operational flexibility and significant cost savings.

“With the new A330s South African Airways continues to modernize its fleet, ensuring we meet our customers’ expectations. Simultaneously, the new A330s will provide savings and efficiencies to support our profitability and growth strategies,” explained South African Airways CEO, Siza Mzimela.

“The A330-200, with its superior economics and proven passenger appeal, will fit seamlessly into the South African Airways fleet,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “Airbus has a long history of partnership with South African Airways and the local industry, and we look forward to continuing to build this mutually beneficial relationship.”

With a typical range capability of 7,250 nautical miles (for a two-class configuration), the A330-200 has the versatility to cover all ranges from short-haul to true long haul – ideal for point-to-point operations. A330 cabins are widely recognized as among the best in the sky, offering a bright atmosphere with the quietest cabins in their class.

The reliable and efficient A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today, with one taking off each minute every day. To date, Airbus has won over 1,100 orders for the different models of the aircraft. Some 750 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with 90 operators worldwide in 50 countries.

Six of these Airbus A320 aircraft will be added progressively to the company’s fleet between April and June, with a further three, including one A319, coming on line before year end

The additional aircraft are essential to meet forecasted growth and respond to the company’s desire to lower the average age of its fleet

Barcelona, January 19, 2011 –- Vueling, the new generation Spanish airline, has just ratified an agreement to incorporate three new aircraft before the end of the year. This is in addition to the six aircraft that the company reached agreement on in 2010 for service introduction between April 2010 and June 2011. Vueling will incorporate a total of nine aircraft in 2011, taking its total fleet to 42 aircraft and representing an investment of around 110 million Euros.

Six will be added to the fleet to reinforce the projected growth plan for 2011 which focuses primarily on expansion at its main base in Barcelona, together with airports it serves in Spain and its two new international bases in Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Toulouse (France).

The remaining three aircraft will be incorporated into Vueling’s fleet with the aim of gradually rejuvenating it and reducing the average age of less than six years by 2012.

Lease agreements have been arranged through industry leaders which provide services to more than 200 airlines worldwide. Eight of the new aircraft will be traditional Airbus A320s which Vueling has operated since the outset. The ninth will be an Airbus A319, with a slightly lower capacity of 144 seats.

Continuing Market Success For Airbus’ Efficient Long-Range A330 Family

January 24, 2011 — GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric [NYSE: GE], has signed a firm order for 12 additional long-range A330-300 aircraft. This new order brings the total number of A330s ordered by GECAS to 32.

“This order adds to our existing portfolio of A330 aircraft,” said Norman C. T. Liu, GECAS President and CEO. “A key part of our strategy is to expand our wide-body product offerings to satisfy customer demand.”

“This repeat order from GECAS underscores the ongoing popularity of the A330, and highlights the strong market demand for the A330-300 in particular” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The unbeatable economic efficiency and proven passenger appeal of this aircraft make it the perfect choice in today’s market for medium capacity routes.”

Airbus aircraft share a unique cockpit and operational commonality, allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, bringing operational flexibility and resulting in significant cost savings.

With a true wide-body fuselage allowing very high comfort standards, the A330-300 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit diverse customer requirements. It has a range of up to 5,600 nm / 10,400 km with a typical 300 passenger load. Highly efficient and optimised for the medium – to long range market, the A330-300 offers the best balance between range and cost. The A330-300 remains the most economic means of flying 300 or so passengers on medium range routes in true long haul comfort. Orders for the aircraft stand at more than 480.

The A330 Family, which spans 200 to 400 seats for the passenger variants, also includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,100 orders.

First Order For A320neo‪‪ Booked

January 17, 2011 — Airbus announced this morning its 10,000th order with a firm contract from Virgin America for 60 A320s, including 30 A320neo aircraft. This is the first firm order for the A320 new engine option; therefore Virgin America becomes the launch customer for the A320neo. This formalizes and expands an initial commitment given at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2010 with the inclusion of the A320neo as a new development in that deal. The 30 A320s will feature fuel-saving large wing tip devices called Sharklets. Virgin America has not yet announced its engine choice on the newly ordered A320s or the A320neo. Seating configuration on the aircraft will be the same as its existing A320 fleet (146-149 seats) in a two-class configuration.

“At just three years old and at a time when many carriers are contracting, we’re pleased to be growing and bringing our award-winning service to new markets,” said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. “We credit a great deal of our success to date to having the right aircraft. The low operating costs, cabin comfort and carbon-efficient design of our all-new Airbus A320 fleet has helped fuel our growth and success in the North American market – and we’re confident the A320neo will only build on that.”

“We hit our 5000th order in August of 2004 – after more than 30 years. To achieve the 10,000th order just over six years later is a ringing endorsement of our product line,” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. “And it gives a strong boost to our new, eco-efficient A320neo when ‪Virgin America, one of our newest and trendiest customers, places the first firm order, for which we are extremely grateful.”

Based in San Francisco, California, Virgin America was founded in August 2007. The airline flies an exclusive fleet of more than 30 A320 Family aircraft on a growing network that reaches across North America. The airline prides itself on its guest service, unique design and amenities, including fleetwide WiFi and personal touch-screen entertainment platforms at every seat. Virgin America consistently wins travel industry and customer choice awards for its outstanding service, amenities and focus on sustainability.

“Virgin airlines are known around the world for innovation – for harnessing the best in design, technology and entertainment to reinvent the travel experience,” said Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson. “We’re just as committed to investing in the next generation solutions that will make air travel more sustainable. Climate change cannot be ignored by business, and I believe that we must rise to the challenge of combating it and find new and better ways of operating. The A320neo will help us get there, by lowering costs and reducing our impact on the environment. Virgin America’s existing A320s are now up to 25 percent more fuel and carbon efficient than the average U.S. fleet, and the A320neo promises to improve on the numbers even more.”