AIRBUS has strengthened its foothold in Australasia after wining an order for 14 A320s to replace 15 Air New Zealand Boeing 737-300s.
The order continues a march by the European manufacturer that has seen it go from a handful of aircraft at Ansett at the beginning to decade, to winning significant orders at Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand.
The latest jets, destined for Air NZ’s domestic routes, join 12 A320s already deployed on short-haul international routes. Air NZ also has purchase rights for another 11 planes, including the possibility of moving to the bigger A321.
The 14 aircraft list at more than $US1 billion ($1bn), but the airline said today it had bought them at a discount “that reflects the current market conditions”.
“This is a very good time to buy aircraft,” said Bruce Parton, Air NZ’s group general manager (short haul airline).
“The industry is at the bottom of a deep cycle, so demand for aircraft is limited, creating favourable conditions for buyers with strong balance sheets like Air New Zealand.”
The airline expects the first aircraft to arrive in January, 2011, with the remainder progressively introduced through to 2016.
It said the fuel-efficiency of the A320s would be driven by an advanced IAE engine with improved fuel-burn - the A320 also boasts 171 seats, compared to 133 on the B737-300, which would allow Air NZ to both increase capacity in the domestic market and reduce carbon emissions.
The bigger aircraft would also allow the carrier it to overcome capacity constraints at some New Zealand airports, Air NZ said.
Airbus said the A320 had won the Air New Zealand contract after an intensive and robust evaluation, and the carrier would reap the benefits from a common brand of aircraft across its domestic and short-haul fleet.
Cut & paste. Original source unknown.
