easyJet announced today that it has reached an agreement with Airbus to convert 30 current A320neo orders to A321neo aircraft with a 235 seat configuration, with the first delivery expected in Summer 2018.  This is part of the existing easyJet Airbus framework agreement signed in 2013.

The A321neo aircraft will enable easyJet to continue to deliver growth in slot constrained airports with an increase in seats per flight of around 30% compared to an A320 and 50% when replacing an A319.

In addition, the A321neos will secure substantial unit cost savings which are estimated to be around 8% to 9% better than an A320neo and around 21% better than an A319.  Much of this is driven by reduced fuel consumption per flight which will also deliver an improvement in CO₂ per passenger kilometre of 16% when moving from an A320 to an A321neo and 21% when an A319 is replaced by an A321neo.

Like easyJet’s A320neo aircraft, the A321neos will be powered by CFM’s LEAP-1A engine which as well as being more fuel efficient are also achieving a noise footprint reduction of around 50% compared to existing aircraft types. The A321neos will comply with ICAO Chapter 14 regulations and their NOx emissions will also meet the ICAO CAEP/8 regulations.

easyJet’s total fleet as at 31 March 2017 comprised 266 aircraft, split between 156-seat Airbus A319s, 180-seat A320s and since May 2016, 186-seat A320s.  The 144 A319s are being progressively replaced by A320s, with the first A320neo delivering in June this year and, from summer 2018, A321neos.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet’s CEO said:

These new aircraft will help us deliver our strategy of securing and growing our number one positions at Europe’s leading airports, which are generally slot constrained, while reducing our cost per seat.

 

This means we will be able to offer low fares to more people on Europe’s most popular business and leisure routes.

 

As importantly, the A321neos will also help us to mitigate our environmental impact by reducing our passengers’ carbon footprint as well as our impact on the communities around the airports we serve.

Over the next five years easyJet will continue to reduce operating cost per seat and its passengers’ carbon footprint by improving its fleet mix and ownership structure.  In the six months to 31 March 2017, easyJet took delivery of nine 186-seat A320 aircraft, which provide a per seat cost saving of 7% to 8% compared to the A319 (and an equivalent improvement) through economies of scale, efficiencies in crew, ownership, fuel and maintenance.  easyJet also completed the up-gauging of 44 of its existing 180-seat A320s to 186 seats.  The average age of the fleet is seven years.

easyJet’s total fleet as at 31 March 2017