Andrew Doyle/MUNICH
Iberia says it is swapping all of its outstanding Airbus A321 orders for commitments to smaller A320s, after failing to reach agreement with its main pilots' union over the operation of the two types within a combined fleet.
"There has been no agreement with the pilots, so we have decided to buy all of the same aircraft," says the Spanish flag carrier.
The SEPLA union had been insisting that the A320s and A321s be operated as separate fleets, despite the fact that they have identical cockpits and can be flown under a common type rating. The A321 accommodates about 20% more passengers than the 150-seat A320.
Two A321s, from an order placed last year for 19, have been delivered and the airline says it is considering disposing of these. Of the remaining 17, only one, due for delivery later this year, has been formally swapped for an A320. This takes the carrier's firm orders for the A320 to 56, of which 25 have been delivered. Another A320 is in service on lease from International Lease Finance (ILFC).
Iberia says it has informed Airbus of its intention to respecify the rest of its A321s as A320s, which it is entitled to do under the terms of its contract.
It remains unclear whether SEPLA will agree to the operation of nine A319s due to be taken on lease from ILFC from next year.
Source: Flight International
