Airbus secures orders for more than 200 planes at Paris show
Airbus has secured a string of orders for its airliners at the Paris Air Show this week. GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, has signed a firm order for 100 A320neo family aircraft at the 52nd International Paris Air Show.
The deal is worth around £850m at list prices and brings the total number of Airbus aircraft ordered by GECAS to almost 600 aircraft.
Meanhile, Air Lease Corporation, the Los Angeles-based aircraft-leasing company, has signed a firm order for 12 additional A321neo aircraft at the air show.
“The A320neo aircraft is an excellent product. GECAS is pleased to make this additional commitment for A320neos to meet strong customer demand for this type,” said GECAS president and CEO Alec Burger.
“The A320neo family aircraft, powered by CFM’s LEAP-1A engines, with now-proven increased fuel efficiencies, longer range and higher seating capacity, will continue to be one of our core assets in our lease portfolio.
“The A321 version has also gained strong acceptance from customers in various new markets, proving the versatility of the type.”
Dublin-based CDB Aviation Lease Finance DAC (CDB Aviation) has signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 45 aircraft, consisting of 30 A320neos and 15 A321neos.
CDB Aviation is on a fast track to becoming one of the world’s premier Chinese-owned aviation leasing companies.
“We are investing in the A320neo because we believe our customers will benefit from such an advanced aircraft. These aircraft will strengthen our overall aircraft portfolio and assist in the growth of our customer base,’’ said Peter Chang, CDB Aviation president and CEO.
Viva Air, the Latin America lowcost carrier group owned by Irelandia Aviation, signed an MoU for 50 A320 family aircraft, comprising 35 A320neo and 15 A320ceo. The agreement paves the way for the group’s airlines, VivaColombia and Viva Air Peru, to base their fleet renewal and network growth on the A320 family.
Medellin-based VivaColombia operates nine A320 aircraft and Lima-based Viva Air Peru, its recently launched sister airline, currently operates two, all with a capacity of 180 seats.
After announcing orders for 30 incremental Airbus A321ceo aircraft just last month, Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has placed an order for 10 more of the aircraft.
Many of Delta’s A321s are being delivered from the Airbus US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. The airline received its first US-manufactured A321 last year.
By the end of 2017, the Airbus facility in Mobile is expected to produce four aircraft per month, most going to Airbus’ US customers.
And Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, has ordered 10 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, enabling further development of its fastexpanding long-haul route network.
Last June, Ethiopian Airlines became the first African carrier to operate the A350 when it took delivery of the first of 12 aircraft in order. Today the carrier operates a fleet of four A350s, two on lease.
This order tops up the Addis Ababa-based carrier’s fleet, enabling it to pursue its growth strategy and objectives over the coming years.
Earlier in the week Airbus unveiled plans to upgrade the world’s biggest passenger jet in a bid to boost flagging sales.
The A380Plus will boast a new wing design with large winglets and other wing refinements that allow for up to 4% fuel burn savings.
Airbus – which assembles the wings of the A380 at Broughton – also said the cabin had been optimised to allow up to 80 extra seats on the double-decker aircraft “with no compromise on comfort”.
John Leahy, Airbus COO Customers, said: “The A380plus is an efficient way to offer even better economics and improved operational performance at the same time.
“It is a new step for our iconic aircraft to best serve worldwide fastgrowing traffic and the evolving needs of the A380 customers. The A380 is well-proven as the solution to increasing congestion at large airports and in offering a unique, passenger-preferred experience.”
There has been a slump in orders for the A380 plane as more airlines opt for smaller twin-engine jets.
Airbus said that along with other enhancements, the plane would cut costs for airlines by 13% per seat.