Category: Airshows

Today on Paris Air Show, Airbus announced that Turkish Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for seven Airbus A330. The order includes two of the increased take-off weight version of the A330-200, which offers an extended flying range of up to 7,200 nautical miles, and five A330-300s.

With deliveries scheduled from August 2010, Turkish Airlines will use the aircraft on their regional and long-haul routes.

Airbus also announced today that Chennai based Paramount Airways, one of India’s leading domestic premium airlines, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy ten A321 aircraft with an option for an additional ten.

With the new aircraft, Paramount Airways will launch international services from South India. The A321s will feature Airbus’ newest cabin design.

Images: Airbus

ZestAir orders A320
Zest Airways Inc (ZestAir) of the Philippines has placed a firm order with Airbus for its first brand new A320. The aircraft will join an existing fleet of two A320s that the airline purchased in the open market in 2008.

Philippines-based ZestAir currently serves a network of 18 destinations across the Philippines. With the delivery of its newly ordered aircraft the airline will extend its network to international destinations in Asia.

Aigle Azur orders its first brand new Airbus A319
The French private airline Aigle Azur has placed a firm order with Airbus for one new A319 aircraft. This is the first time the airline has purchased an aircraft directly from Airbus.

The new A319 will be configured in a comfortable two-class layout and will be powered by CFM-56 engines from CFM International.

Aigle Azur currently operates a fleet of ten A320 Family aircraft, comprising three A319s, three A320s and four A321s. Aigle Azur flies from several cities in France to various destinations including Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Portugal and Tunisia.
Founded in 1946, Aigle Azur is the oldest private French airline. The company became an Airbus operator in 2003 and has operated an all-Airbus fleet since 2005.

Wizz Air commits to buy 50 Airbus A320s
Wizz Air, the largest Central and Eastern European low cost – low fare airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to buy 50 more A320s. This will take their total orders up to 132 aircraft. All Wizz Air aircraft will be configured in a comfortable single-class layout, seating up to 180 passengers. No choice of engine has been made yet.

The new A320 order will allow Wizz Air to reinforce and expand its extensive network established at 11 operating bases, in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Czech Republic. It will also allow the airline to add new destinations to its 130 existing routes. This new large A320 order will enable Wizz Air to reinforce its strong position in the region. The rapidly expanding Central and Eastern Europe’s low-cost low fare airline already operates a young and eco-efficient Airbus fleet of 24 A320s.

Photos: Airbus

At Paris Airshow 2009 day 1 and day 2, Airbus announced several new aircraft orders from various customers.

Qatar Airways buys 24 Airbus A320 Family aircraft
Qatar Airways has signed a firm contract for 24 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. The agreement includes the firming up of a contract for four A321 aircraft announced at the Farnborough Air show in July 2008.
Qatar Airways currently operates 19 A320 Family aircraft, the Middle East’s largest fleet. The new aircraft configured with a two-class cabin will be deployed to enhance and expand services on regional, Eastern European and south west Asia services.

 

Private Asian customer orders Airbus A320 Prestige
A private Asian customer has placed a firm order for an Airbus A320 Prestige, becoming the first to order the type in the region.
Based on the modern A320 airliner, but featuring a customised cabin, extra fuel-tanks for intercontinental range, and a host of other features, the Airbus A320 Prestige has the largest cabin in its class, making it the new top-of-the-line in business jets.

 

Cebu Pacific increases A320 orders to 15
Cebu Pacific of the Philippines has increased its outstanding A320 orders to 15, with a new firm order for five aircraft. Scheduled for delivery from 2013, the new aircraft will join an existing A319 and A320 fleet flying on the low cost carrier’s extensive domestic and regional route network. The initial batch of 10 aircraft is scheduled for delivery between 2010 and 2013.

 

Vietnam Airlines orders more Airbus aircraft
Vietnam Airlines announced at the Paris Air Show that it has placed a firm order with Airbus for 16 more single aisle A321s and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for two additional A350 XWBs.

 

AirAsia X orders 10 A350 XWB
AirAsia X, the long haul low cost affiliate of Malaysia’s AirAsia Group, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 10 A350 XWB aircraft. The airline will use the aircraft on a network linking its Asian hub in Kuala Lumpur with destinations worldwide, especially in Europe and Australia. AirAsia X has selected the A350-900 variant for its fleet, which will be configured to seat more than 400 passengers in a two-class layout (Ouch! Welcome to the slave ship!).

Images: Airbus