Now seven new aircraft to join the all-Airbus single aisle fleet
Aegean Airlines, Greece’s largest airline, has signed a firm contract with Airbus for two additional A320ceo aircraft, adding to a previous order for five A320s aircraft placed in September 2007.
All aircraft will be equipped with Airbus “Sharklet” fuel saving wing tip devices and will be powered by IAE V2500 engines. The aircraft will also be the first A320s in Aegean’s fleet to feature the enhanced take-off weight capability of up to 78 tonnes, thus enabling the carrier to expand its route network with even longer range operations.
Mr. Theodoros Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN, stated: “AEGEAN’s decision to take delivery of seven new Airbus A320s shows its commitment to invest once more in the ongoing qualitative growth of the aviation sector in Greece. Our capabilities are increasing and the existing competitive advantage of the low average age of our aircraft is further enhanced. We do everything in our hands to further increase the satisfaction of our passengers and certainly our competitiveness”.
“We are very pleased with the confidence that Aegean Airlines places in our products. This renewed order from Aegean Airlines will strengthen its position as a major European airline, connecting Greece to the world,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “We are proud to see passengers from all over the world benefiting from the comfort and efficiency only our best-selling single-aisle aircraft family offers.”
Aegean Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, was named for the fourth year in a row the Best Regional Airline in Europe at the 2014 World Airline Awards. Aegean Airlines operates to date an all-Airbus single-aisle fleet of 36 Airbus A320 family aircraft including 17 directly purchased.
This new order will strengthen the airline’s network that reaches today 205 international routes from its eight Greek bases (scheduled and charter flights), thus supporting tourism in Greece.
Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that cut the aircraft’s fuel burn and emissions by up to four per cent on longer sectors. They are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. With over 10,900 Airbus single aisle aircraft sold and over 6,100 delivered today to some 400 customers and operators, the A320 Family is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft family.
28 August 2014 Press Release