German charter specialist Hamburg International has confirmed its switch to Airbus narrowbodies, after placing a firm order for 14 A319s.
Late last year ATI reported the carrier was preparing to announce a complete fleet renewal programme early in 2006 and would replace its Boeing fleet with A319s.
Today the European manufacturer has announced Hamburg International has become a new Airbus customer with an order for 14 A319s. It has also taken options on six more of the type. A contract for the order was signed in December.
The aircraft will be delivered in a single class configuration seating up to 150 passengers from 2008 and will be powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.
The carrier says ten of the newly-ordered aircraft (an Airbus artist's impression of which is pictured below) will be used to renew its existing fleet. Hamburg International currently operates six Boeing 737-700s and, in line with its steady growth since its creation in 1998, will take a seventh this summer.
The airline stresses the order marks a “renewal” rather than an extension of its fleet for its core operations – the airline operates on behalf of tour operators as well as charter flights, executive charters and corporate flight operations.
“We want to stay in our niche markets and there will be no change of this business strategy,” he says, noting operating ten aircraft by the time A319 deliveries are completed in 2009 is in line with its current growth. At that point the company believes it will have sufficient size for this operation.
Hamburg International would not be drawn on the deployment plans for the other four aircraft on firm order – saying these plans relate to an unspecified project outside of Europe.
Hamburg International managing directors Norbert Grella, Klaus Schlichtmann and Christoph von Saldern say in a statement: “We believe that the renewal of our fleet with A319 aircraft will further improve the satisfaction of our customers in terms of comfort and flexibility to serve our niche markets.”
The carrier will phase out the last of its 737s by the end of 2009 and will operate a transitional two-fleet strategy during the summers of 2008 and 2009.
GRAHAM DUNN / LONDON
Source: Flight International
