Northwest Airlines has confirmed the commitment it signed in June with Airbus Industrie at the Paris air show for its A319, with a firm order for 50 aircraft, plus options for a further 100 A319s and A320s.
The 124-seat A319s will be used for growth, rather than to replace existing aircraft. Deliveries will begin in mid-1999 and continue at a rate of ten a year until 2003.
The airline already operates 150-seat A320s and has a further 20 on order. The 100 options include those it already holds on A320s. The A319s, like Northwest's A320s, will be powered by CFM International CFM56-5A engines.
Northwest says that it plans to train its crews to fly both types. "The A319 continues our efforts to simplify our fleet," says president John Dasburg. Northwest plans to retain its fleet of upgraded McDonnell Douglas DC-9s, hushkitted Boeing 727s and Boeing 757s as the A319s and additional A320s are delivered. Northwest also has 16 Airbus A330s on order, but has set no delivery date for them.
The latest deal boosts North American sales of Airbus aircraft beyond the 800 mark, with Northwest being its largest airline customer in the region.
Finnair has selected the CFM56-5B to power 12 Airbus A320s and A321s ordered this year.
Source: Flight International
