Airbus has announced multiple contracts on the first day of this year’s Farnborough Air Show.
Airbus has announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with a leading global lessor for 80 A320neo Family aircraft. The agreement was completed during the Farnborough Airshow. Engine selection will be made at a later date.
An affiliate of Macquarie AirFinance Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Group, listed in Australia, has placed a firm order for 20 A320neo aircraft to add to its existing portfolio of 119 Airbus aircraft (110 A320 Family and nine A330). This first time order for the A320neo, makes Macquarie AirFinance Group the newest customer for the type. Engine selection will be made at a later date.
Goshawk Aviation, the 50/50 joint venture between Hong Kong-based conglomerate NWS Holdings and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, has placed a firm order for 20 A320neo. Goshawk Aviation is based in Dublin, Ireland, and has an owned, managed and committed fleet of over 220 aircraft including the direct order with Airbus. Goshawk has more than 120 Airbus aircraft in its portfolio (A320 Family including NEO, A330 Family including NEO and A350-900) and the order for A320neo re-enforces the appeal of the world’s bestselling single aisle Family. Engine selection will be made at a later date.
STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has selected the all-new A350 XWB for its future long haul fleet, following the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of 17 aircraft, comprising 12 A350-1000s and five A350-900s. The news follows a decision by the airline earlier this year also to select Airbus for its regional single aisle fleet, with a plan to finalise leases for 10 A321neo aircraft from third party lessors by the end of the year. STARLUX Airlines is a new full-service airline based in Taipei and founded by Taiwanese aviation veteran Chang Kuo-wei, former Chairman of EVA Air. The carrier will develop a network spanning destinations across Asia and long haul services to North America. The carrier will launch regional operations in early 2020, followed by long haul services early in 2022.
Airbus confirmed at the Farnborough Airshow a deal agreed earlier in 2018 that Sichuan Airlines, based in the Southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, has selected the A350 XWB to become the latest aircraft in its fleet. Sichuan Airlines operates the largest all-Airbus fleet in China with over 130 Airbus family aircraft. In addition to its domestic network, Sichuan Airlines now operates on over 30 international routes, including routes from Chengdu to Moscow, Sidney, Dubai and Vancouver. The airline also leased four A350 XWBs, with the first one to be delivered by this year. The newly introduced A350 XWBs, which is a strong supplement to Sichuan Airlines’ Airbus fleet, will be deployed on its non-stop long haul international routes, such as Chengdu to North America and Europe.
Golden Falcon Aviation, the exclusive aircraft provider of Wataniya Airways, has confirmed an order for 25 Airbus A320neo family aircraft.The order follows an earlier MoU announced at last year’s Dubai Airshow. Wataniya Airways resumed operations in July 2017 and currently operates a fleet of four A320 family aircraft serving destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia from its home base in Kuwait. The A320neo family aircraft will support the airline’s vision to become the fastest growing and leading airline in the country.
VISTARA, the New Delhi-based carrier, has signed a letter of Intent (LoI) for 13 A320neo aircraft to add to its existing portfolio of 21 Airbus aeroplanes. The newly ordered aircraft are powered by 26 LEAP-1A engines. The full-service airline has also committed to an additional 37 A320neo Family aircraft from lessors. The combined agreements would add 50 A320neo Family to Vistara’s fleet. The engine selection for VISTARA’s latest firm order is Leap CFM. For VISTARA, the A320neo will be the first aircraft to fly regional international routes.
