Greek carrier Aegean is to double its spare aircraft capacity this year in order to protect its network against supply-chain issues.
Speaking during a full-year briefing, chairman Eftichios Vassilakis disclosed the plan to retain “a very large number of aircraft” as back-up as it aimed to conduct “significantly higher” activity over the course of 2023.
Vassilakis says the carrier – which aims to build a fleet of 76 aircraft this year – wants to improve resilience against potential supply problems, including issues with delivery delays or engines, and ensure a “robust” operation.
“We’re doubling spare capacity in order to deal with that,” he states.
Aegean is modernising its fleet with Airbus A320neo-family jets. Chief executive Dimitris Gerogiannis says it received nine last year, but originally 12 had been scheduled.
Nine more are to arrive this year, he adds.
Gerogiannis says the airline has also completed the withdrawal of its De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprop fleet, having replaced them with ATR 72-600s.
He says the ATR operation is “more efficient” than that of the Dash 8s, and that the carrier also secured “significantly better terms” with lessors.
While the ATR has a “range disadvantage” against the Dash 8, he says, this is “not relevant” to Aegean’s network because it deploys its jet fleet on longer routes.
Gerogiannis adds that the fleet renewal has led to a “less complex” and “more uniform” operation for the carrier.
