A320

Airbus creates Corporate Jet business department

Airbus has created a new department to take advantage of the growing market for single aisle and twin aisle business jets. Read more

Planes for sale - SAS to sell 13 MD80 aircraft

SAS is selling 13 MD80 aircraft and 12 spare engines as it continues to upgrade its airline fleet.

Scandinavian Airlines System, has entered into a sales agreement with Sunrise Asset Management, LLC, to sell 13 MD82/83/87 aircraft and an additional 12 spare engines. Read more

First flight to the Maldives by Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has completed its first flight to Malé and touched down to a colourful welcome in the capital of the Republic of the Maldives this afternoon. Read more

Qantas and Airbus seal 110 A320 aircraft order

Iberia set date to launch new European lowcost airline Iberia Express

IAG’s board has approved the launch of the Iberia new subsidiary airline – Iberia Express – which will operate part of the Iberia short and medium haul network. Read more

Frontier Airlines to provide charter flights for Apple Vacations

Frontier Airlines today announced that it has reached a multi-year agreement to provide Apple Vacations charter flights from the United States to international destinations. Read more

Lufthansa purchases 30 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft

Lufthansa has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. This contract follows the selection by the Lufthansa Supervisory Board of the A320neo Family in March this year. The order comprises 25 A320neo and five A321neo aircraft. These will be powered by new-generation Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofan engines. With this latest order the Lufthansa Group, Airbus’ biggest airline customer, will have purchased a combined total of 443 Airbus aircraft.

The Airbus A320neo Family also incorporates large “Sharklet” wing tip devices, which together with the new more efficient engines, will deliver up to 15 percent in fuel savings. This will represent 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, thus being a good neighbour at any airport where Lufthansa is operating the aircraft.

“We are proud that Lufthansa has chosen the eco-efficient A320neo Family as its solution for sustainable growth, and one which will fit seamlessly into its existing Airbus A320 fleet,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

“Since its launch in December last year, around 1,200 orders and commitments for the ‘neo’ have given it the fastest rate of sales ever for any commercial aircraft.”

Today the Lufthansa Group is Airbus’ biggest operator worldwide with more than 360 Airbus aircraft currently in service. These include: 254 A320 Family; 38 A330 ; 65 A340 ; and eight A380 aircraft. With this latest order for 30 aircraft, the Lufthansa Group has an order backlog which includes 85 A320 Family aircraft, eight A330 and seven A380 aircraft.

The Airbus A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Over 7,500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 4,700 delivered to more than 330 customers and operators worldwide.

The Airbus A320neo Family will have over 95 percent airframe commonality with the existing models making it an easy fit into today’s fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.

AirAsia becomes Airbus largest airline customer with 200 Airbus A320neo aircraft order

AirAsia, named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline by Skytrax for three consecutive years, today placed a firm order for 200 Airbus A320neo aircraft, becoming the world’s largest airline customer of Airbus in history.

AirAsia placed the order, worth US$18.5 billion, at the Paris Air Show.  The order is the largest ever Airbus deal by number of aircraft as well as the largest ever order for aircraft in the A320 family. Read more

Qatar Airways launches new Airbus A320 route to Shiraz

Qatar Airways has launched scheduled flights to the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, marking the first of three route start-ups this month. Read more

All economy class aircraft to enter service with Etihad Airways

Etihad are trying something new as the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the UAE, will start flying its first ‘all Economy’ class aircraft next week.

The Airbus A320 will be configured to carry 162 Economy class passengers, an increase of 42 from the current economy capacity.

From October 31, the ‘all Economy’ Etihad aircraft will be operating to Alexandria, Colombo, Damascus, Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut and Peshawar. Read more